The return of the New Year’s Eve rodeo to Augathella after a dozen years in abeyance was a hugely popular move, with something like 500 people on the grounds on Saturday night.
Organiser Keith Clarke said there had been a big demand for the end-of-year event, especially since Mitchell ceased running something similar, but they needed to get lights installed first.
“We embarked on a facilities development program in 2008 and put a 10-year plan in place,” he said.
“The old timber yards dated back to pre-World War II, and we were having to put up portable panels inside a campdraft arena.
“We received Gambling Community Benefit Fund money for the toilet block and the cold room and bar, and the Department of Sport and Recreation, plus the Murweh Shire Council, came up with the money for the lights.”
They dazzled the audience for the first time when they were christened on Saturday night, allowing them to cheer competitors in saddle bronc, bareback, bull riding and poddy rides.
Ahern Stock Contracting at Wyandra supplied the bucking stock for the QRA rodeo, which all had plenty of buck.
Alongside the rodeo was a round of the Outback Barrel Horse Association.
Keith said the evening should return a profit, which they would put into more facility upgrades, particularly in shade for the yards and chutes, and canteen upgrades.
Half the profits from the canteen will go to Queensland Cancer.
The best part of running rodeos for Keith is the ethics it teaches the young people involved.
“If you teach them how to behave in one area, they learn lessons for life,” he said.
The Augathella Diggers Rodeo Association is now looking at using its renovated facilities for rodeo schools.
Results
Open Bull Ride
- 1st Luke Ahern
Novice Bull Ride
- 1st Kyle Smith and Travis Baker
Juvenile Bull Ride
- 1st Jack Banks and Dillon Burke
Junior Steer Ride
- 1st Luke Smoothy
- 2nd Matty Ahern
- 3rd Luke Clifford
Open Saddle Bronc Ride
- 1st Angus Mitchell and Wade Seeds
- 2nd Jim Hancock
Open Bareback Ride
- 1st Billy Blacker
- 2nd Clayton Cameron
Ladies Barrels
- 1st Jolene Seeds
- 2nd Katie Rafter
- 3rd Sharni OToole
- 4th Jessie Evans