The impact that Isa Rodeo has on Outback Qld’s Indigenous communities

Isa Rodeo’s chief executive said the Indigenous Rodeo Championships had “enormous growth potential” building up to the 2032 Olympic Games.

Rodeo athlete Dexter Dick at the Mount Isa Rodeo. Photo: Peter Wallis.

Mount Isa Rodeo’s Indigenous Rodeo Championships is now in the running to be among Australia’s best tourism events, following its success in the Queensland Tourism Awards.

The rodeo was announced the winner of the Festivals and Events category at the awards ceremony held in Cairns.

It is now eligible to compete in the national awards to be held in Darwin in March.

Isa Rodeo’s chief executive Natalie Flecker said the championships offered many social and economic benefits to regional communities in Outback Queensland, and had “enormous growth potential” in future.

“(It) will play a significant role in the First Nations offering to the many visitors leading up to and beyond the 2032 Olympics, Para-Olympics,” she said.

Ben Terry competing at the Mount Isa Rodeo. Photo: Stephen Mowbray

“The event expertise of Isa Rodeo Ltd, the cultural guidance and input from Malkarri and the inspiring programs and advice Mona (Aboriginal Corporation) offers to empower our Aboriginal youth is a deadly combination that demonstrates the sort of outcomes great partnerships can produce.”

Meanwhile, the Mount Isa Rodeo’s main event in August last year won second place in the major events category and lost only to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

Ms Flecker said last year’s rodeo brought in 25,084 attendees, who spent an average 8.7 nights away from home.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Mount Isa Rodeo this year. The Isa Rodeo has frequently brought in dignitaries from across the country, who have often been able to time the event with business. Photo: Peter Wallis.

Visitors from interstate generally spent more time away from home to attend the event, with an average of 15.5 nights away.

Ms Flecker said the organisation and the people behind the event were confident in its objectives to deliver great visitor experiences, and that attendance and feedback showed this was happening.

“We were hopeful of taking home an award and are overjoyed with the results and proud that two events held in some a remote and often challenging environment could walk away with these two awards,” she said.

Mount Isa City Council’s tourism and events spokeswoman, councillor Peta MacRae, attended the tourism awards to support the Isa Street Festival, as well as tourist centre Outback at Isa volunteer Alan Rackham, which were both nominees in the awards.

Cr MacRae said the Mount Isa Rodeo was the “premium event of the year” for the city and that it was significant in improving the liveability to the area, and has attracted tourists and dignitaries from across the world.

Such dignitaries included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk who both attended the Rodeo held to mark Mount Isa’s centenary celebrations held in August this year.

Originally published as The impact that Isa Rodeo has on Outback Qld’s Indigenous communities