Longstanding family helps save Mount Morgan Rodeo after theft

A family with long ties to a Central Qld community has stepped up to ensure a popular event will go ahead after a brazen theft threatened its future.

The annual Mount Morgan Rodeo was under threat of not going ahead this year after vital equipment was stolen.

A family with deep connections to a Central Queensland town has come to the rescue of one of its most popular community events.

The annual Mount Morgan Rodeo was under threat of not going ahead this year after brazen thieves stole more than $10,000 worth of vital equipment.

A total of 43 panels, five gates and five slides owned by the rodeo association were stolen from the Mount Morgan Showgrounds last month.

Association president Karley Goody said it was a “huge setback”, which could well have meant the rodeo did not go ahead for the first time in more than three decades.

“It’s not my stuff but it hurts,” she said.

“If you don’t have an arena, you can’t have a rodeo.”

The annual Mount Morgan Rodeo draws hundreds of spectators.

Goody was determined to keep the May Day long weekend tradition alive – and it was her family who answered the SOS.

Her father Len Buckton, 71, was born and raised in Mount Morgan and the family has been heavily involved in the community.

They own property in the area and willingly loaned the equipment needed for the May 4 rodeo to go ahead.

Goody was understandably relieved and grateful for their support.

“You can always count on family,” she said.

Goody has been president for four years and was instrumental in the association buying its own gates, slides and chutes so it wasn’t constantly forking out hire fees.

She said the rodeo had become a popular fixture on the town’s event calendar, attracting crowds between 1500 and 2000.

More than 130 entries have been received in the 13 events on the program, which boasts more than $9000 in prize money.

Platinum Rodeo Co is the contractor for this year’s rodeo, which starts at 2pm at the Mount Morgan Showgrounds.

Originally published as Longstanding family helps save Mount Morgan Rodeo after theft