The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo has come and gone for another year, and what a brilliant 60th year it was.
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I thank everyone involved in the 2019 Isa Rodeo - the volunteers, event coordinators and members of the support team - for everything they have done to bring this superb, iconic event to us yet again.
The collaborative efforts to put together an exciting, unforgettable event that is not just the biggest and richest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, but since its inception has also helped to put our city on the map, are commendable.
It was wonderful to see the Canadian and American rodeo competitors visit and compete at our rodeo - we hope they had a great time and enjoyed our part of the world.
We would like to recognise and thank all of the Australian competitors, the Australian Professional Rodeo Association, rodeo stock handlers, officials and the protection clowns for their contribution for making our rodeo the biggest and best. Congratulations to Mount Isa born-and-raised Chantel Huddy, who won a championship buckle in the Ladies' Barrel Race at the rodeo.
Council is always pleased to organise and run the annual Isa Street Festival and Street Parade during - and to complement - Rodeo Week, and this year's event, on Wednesday, August 7, was one of the best yet.
The feedback we have been receiving since has been overwhelmingly positive, and it was a joy to see the CBD packed with thousands of people enjoying the live entertainment, Street Parade, roving street entertainment, market and food stalls, and sideshow alley.
The entertainment for the night was Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc) and band, and local act Red Desert Blues Band - they both sounded brilliant and kept the party atmosphere through the night. A major drawcard was league legend Johnathan Thurston presenting the signed Maroons jersey to the winner of Council's Facebook competition, and to speak about his JT Academy.
Of course, improvements can be made to any event, and so we are asking for people to give their feedback about this year's event. We have a link on our Facebook page and welcome all feedback - we want to make future Street Festivals better than ever.
Events such as the Isa Street Festival and Street Parade, Mailman Express horse races and the Isa Rodeo really make the Mount Isa community shine and for that we should all be very proud.
Many thanks and my deep appreciation go to everyone who was involved in these wonderful events for their dedication and the many hours, days and weeks of hard work they put in to making them happen.
Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch
