General News
17 September, 2024
Locals keen to step up if Isa Rodeo Ltd goes broke
Several people are in talks to make sure there is a Mount Isa Rodeo in 2025.
Mount Isa rodeo royalty Mark “Tommo” Thompson says that locals will step up to save the event if Isa Rodeo Ltd folds.
The founder of the Great Northern Rodeo Series, which has its final at Buchanan Park on October 12, said conversations had already started about what to do if the existing company in charge decided not to press on in 2025.
“Obviously I don’t want to see the Isa Rodeo fail but if they do then I’m pretty sure there’s a few of us that would be happy to get on board to make sure that it goes ahead,” Tommo told North West Weekly.
“It won’t die because there’s too many people in Mount Isa that wouldn’t let that happen.
“There’s a bit involved in running a rodeo ... it’s a massive job so you need to be very diligent with what you’re spending and what you think you’re going to make out of it.”
Tommo said he was worried that Isa Rodeo Ltd had lost sight of what made the Mount Isa Rodeo such an iconic event on the Queensland calendar.
“Mount Isa does love rodeo, there’s no doubt there,” he said.
“I think it was just honestly the cost. I think that they lost a bit of sight of what they were doing, you know, the paying too much money for big bands and stuff like that ... having to put gate prices up as high as they were and drink prices – people couldn’t afford it.”
Tommo said that if a new body had to be formed to take on the responsibility of running the annual Mount Isa Rodeo, it had to be run by local people.
“We could definitely get it going; I mean it would take a lot more than just me but I know there’s a lot of other people that are willing to come on board that I’ve spoken to,” he said.
“Rotary ran that rodeo since day dot and they did a great job and if it’s up to me Rotary are definitely going to be back involved with the rodeo.
“Quite possibly it could be called the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo again.”
Tommo said he and others had noticed a trend in recent years that local people were starting to disengage from the rodeo.
“I don’t know what they’ve been doing, but I have tried to get on that board over the last five or six years, but they just seem to be a closed book,” he said.
“I’m not sure why they didn’t want any locals on there.”
Tommo said it was in Mount Isa where he developed a love for the sport.
“I was a little kid when I first went to the Mount Isa Rodeo.
“I think I would have been five years old and I’m 55 now, so that’s 50 years ago.
“I’ve been going to rodeos ever since.”
He said if Isa Rodeo Ltd was unable to pay its creditors in full, the new committee should strive to make sure that businesses were paid every cent, even if it took several years.
“If they do fold and we can look at their books and see who’s owed what, it’d be good to see the government or someone come in and step in to help if they can,” Tommo said.
“Even if the government didn’t come on board, we could see what was owed and say, ‘listen, it might take us a few years, but we’ll make sure everyone gets paid back’.
“But it’d be great to see some help from the government.”
The Great Northern Rodeo Series will be held at Buchanan Park on October 12.
Tickets will be $20 for adults, with free entry for those aged 17 and under.
“I love the sport and I want to give back and get more people involved,” Tommo said.
“We try and help kids and local people get involved in rodeo and do a fair bit with kids and get them involved in it.”