Community
21 August, 2024
Locals scoop the major prizes in rodeo's Art Union raffle
Two long-term Mount Isa residents have collected their new Toyotas.
Two Mount Isa residents have new Toyotas after winning the top two prizes in this year’s Mount Isa Rodeo Art Union raffle.
Craig Cunningham picked up his new LandCruiser 300 Series on Monday after he booked in a few add-ons to his new vehicle.
“I’ve been buying tickets in the raffle since the first prize was a horse and a saddle,” he said.
“That’s what the prize used to be – it would have been in the 1980s.”
Mr Cunningham, who retired from Mount Isa Mines at the start of the year after 31 years of service, was elated to get the phone call from Bell & Moir Toyota principal Lee Pulman on the Sunday of the rodeo.
“We’re Toyota people – I’ve got a trayback and the missus has got a 200 series,” he said.
“Katreana is going to sell hers and we’ll keep this one.”
The 67-year-old, who was born in Mount Isa, said retirement wasn’t going as slowly as he had imagined.
“I haven’t got enough hours in the day,” he said.
“I’ve got 20 acres but I lease 1000 off the council and run some cattle and horses.”
Prior to working in the mines, Mr Cunningham was a butcher who helped establish what is now known as Turanga Butchery.
“I bought it off Russell Peters but it was sort of just a showcase and a coldroom, not the butcher shop it is now,” he said.
“I sold it to the Strettons in 1983 and went to the mines.”
The winner of the second prize in the art union raffle was another local in Elio Cernoia, who picked up a Toyota Rav 4.
“I know this person, we used to play cricket together many, many, moons ago,” said Mr Pulman when his name was drawn out at the rodeo.
Elio has lived in Mount Isa since 1968 and works for Glencore Mount Isa Mines.
He said he wasn’t sure if his “winning” ticket was the first or second one he purchased in the art union raffle, but was glad he made the $200 investment for two entries into the famed draw.