The event season has well and truly started in the North West.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a busy weekend just gone with the highlight being the Mount Isa Cup race meet at Buchanan Park.
A big crowd rolled into the race track for the six card meet and the entertainment centre was decked out to seat several hundred patrons.
Indeed there was not one but two stages set up, one for the band and later the DJ which had a giant television screen behind it showing the national racing.
The second stage in the centre of the venue was a catwalk for yet another glamorous fashions on the field.
Mount Isa may be far from the shopping centres of the coast but that doesn't stop locals from dolling up and there were great outfits there that would not have looked out of place at Flemington.
On the actual field, Loud Enough ridden by Tim Brummell brought home the cup for trainer Stephen Royes and I'm sure the party went deep into the Saturday night at the track.
On Sunday it was back to Buchanan Park with the stage moving outside the entertainment complex for Beef, Beach and Beats.
This was Mount Isa City Council's free celebration of Queensland Day and again a decent crowd came along to enjoy the fun.
The "beef" was the free beefburgers on offer (they were great, thanks!), the "beats" were the live music provided by local band Bulldust with Megan Samardin and the gang pumping out great tunes.
You had to use your imagination for the "beach" bit with a volleyball tournament taking pride of place but with Mount Isa grass filling in for the coastal sands.
The fun moves to Cloncurry this weekend for the 40th anniversary of the Cloncurry Show and then back to Mount Isa the following weekend for the Isa Show.
The Shows are brought to you by a hardworking bunch of volunteer show society members in both towns and are brimmed full of attractions that make the entry fee well worthwhile.
I would encourage people to get out and support their local shows.
They are great showcases of the rich agricultural tradition in our region - Derek Barry