Community
6 August, 2024
Four more legends of Isa Rodeo immortalised in the Hall of Fame
Those who gave their lives to the rodeo were honoured on Tuesday night.
Two were the selfless and tireless volunteers that formed the backbone of the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo for decades, and two were the cowboys that trailblazed a path in the arena that is followed by rodeo competitors of the modern day.
On Tuesday night, long-time Rotary volunteers Les Bunn and Laurie Evans, alongside rodeo cowboys Lindsay Rosetta and Ray Crawford, were inducted into the Isa Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Colin Bunn, who is the son of rotary volunteer and former deputy mayor Les Bunn, said the award was recognition of his father’s dedication to the Mount Isa community.
“Dad wanted to be a part of the community, not just on the edges,” Colin said.
“He wanted to contribute to making the rodeo and Mount Isa a better place; he was tireless and full of energy and joy for the city.
“Being a single cog in the big machine that prepared the rodeo event – that was part of my dad’s routine – he really enjoyed the people he worked alongside and he was just a tireless supporter of Rotary and the rodeo.
“He would be found volunteering behind the bar at the beer tent, helping with the replenishment of dry throats – but his background in engineering supply made him well suited to the background tasks that were needed to plan for a successful event.
“His skills were well used and he really enjoyed being part of the event every year.”
Bronwyn Evans, who is the daughter of well-known Mount Isa solicitor Laurie Evans, said her father truly lived the Rotary ethos of “service above self”.
She said Mr Evans did not miss a Rotary meeting in 43 years, even exiting hospital while recovering from brain surgery in Brisbane to attend a meeting.
“I think the award is a great thing – I think it’s an honour he well and truly deserves but I’m biased, of course,” she said.
“Dad was a strong believer that Rotary did a lot of good – so he made it one of the main events in his life.”
Volunteering from the very first Isa Rodeo – initially at the food booths alongside his wife Judy, then serving as the long-time rodeo treasurer responsible for overseeing the money collections and tallying the total takings for Rotary.
“He would drag himself out of bed at 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning for the event,” she said.
“Back in those days there was no such thing as computers so dad would go around to each booth collecting all the money.
“He would come into his office on Monday and everybody would be told to leave him alone because there would be little bits of paper everywhere as he was working out the final tallies so the total takings could be added up and announced at the rodeo round-up meeting.”
Completing his legal clerkship in Mackay, Mr Evans had a choice to practice law in Townsville or Mount Isa – he chose the latter and never wanted to live in another city for the rest of his days.
“He did almost 50 years in the law in Mount Isa and he just loved the city,” Bronwyn said.
“He was here during the strikes at the mine in the 1960s and he was here for all the ups and downs in the city.”
Two-time APRA all-round champion cowboy Crawford, an Order of Australia recipient, was recognised for his dedication to the sport on Tuesday night.
As was legendary pick-up team boss Lindsay Rosetta, who participated in 35 Mount Isa rodeos.
Trained and mentored by the best, Rosetta first joined Robert McPhee’s pick-up team in 1988, an association that continued until McPhee’s retirement 20 years later.
Rosetta then became the pick-up boss, running his own team for a further 15 years until ill-health forced his own retirement in 2023.
Many cowboys owe their safety to Rosetta’s quick-thinking and instincts in the saddle.