Now it might be a case of the onset of rodeo flu - and I hope for her sake that's not the case - but I suspect the more likely reason is a result of the amount of talking Ms Flecker had to do in recent weeks, no doubt reaching a crescendo during the four-day madness of the rodeo itself.

When she finally does have time to sit back and reflect on the event, she can look back with great pride at the work she and her team did to pull together another successful Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.

Given ongoing Covid concerns and all the lockdowns, which tied up 60pc of Australia's population in recent weeks, it was a minor miracle the rodeo took place at all.

There were many last minute adjustments and disappointments including the cancellation of the Mount Isa City Council organised Isa Street Festival and the unavailability due to lockdown of concert star act Guy Sebastian.

But once the action switched to Buchanan Park on Thursday, there was a wonderful sense of familiarity and all-being-right-with-the-world, that the Isa Rodeo brings.

I know myself I bumped into many people I hadn't seen in the flesh in exactly two years - since the Isa rodeo was last held non virtually.

The event proceeded smoothly, though beneath the appearance of this duck swimming serenely, the feet were paddling furiously.

There are so many moving parts to making the rodeo a success: the competitors, the volunteers, the paid staff, the announcers, the stock and their handlers, emergency services, the show guild, and a big and appreciative crowd in the arena, easily the best rodeo venue in the country.

All of these factors are why the Mount Isa rodeo has evolved to become the behemoth it is today, and the most loved of rodeos.

And behind the scenes, there is Ms Flecker, a whirr of activity, making sure all pieces are running like clockwork.

Take a bow Natalie, and rest those vocal chords if you can!