General News
8 July, 2025
Countdown begins for Kajabbi yabby races
The popular event returns to the Kalkadoon Hotel as part of a fundraiser for the Rodeo Queen Quest.
Once a major drawcard of the Kalkadoon Hotel in Kajabbi, the popular yabby races are making a comeback this Saturday.
Chloe Kalbfell and Krystal Wright have teamed up to revive the tradition and hope to draw a big crowd.
Both are entrants in the Zonta Rodeo Queen Quest and will use Saturday’s event to raise money for their respective charities – Mount Isa Hospital Auxiliary and the Mount Isa Rural Fire Brigade.
“Krystal was approached to do it and then she said, ‘I need help, let’s go in it together’. So, we’ve gone into it together, which is very exciting,” Chloe said.
“We’ve got lots of things planned – we’ve got lots of things for the kids – being a mother myself, I know that you need to entertain the kids for the parents to have a good time.
“I’ve got a whole kids club going, we’ve got a glow-in-the-dark disco for the kids, we’ve got a thong throwing competition and we’ve even got a whole box of thongs.
“Someone was throwing out a whole box of thongs and they gave them to me, so we said, ‘let’s do a thong throwing competition’.
“We’ve got a good old ringer's challenge, which I think will be really fun.
“And then we’ve got a live band, We Love Vinyl, who are really good.
“When I went to (fellow Queen Quest entrant) Julie Hannford’s event at the campdraft grounds, they were singing there and they were really good.
“We’ve also got a pool competition.”
Krystal, who has enjoyed being a Queen Quest entrant since it was revived last year, said she was looking forward to providing a fun weekend for North West locals.
“A lot of people are coming from Mount Isa but everyone is welcome,” she said.
“We expect there will be travellers there as well who can join in the fun.”
There are two main ways to get to Kajabbi from Mount Isa – either by taking the Lake Julius Road about 20km east of the Isa, or by going to Cloncurry and turning off from the Burke Developmental Road.
The latter is the best way and mostly sealed, for those concerned about dirt and corrugations.
Kalkadoon Hotel publican Jeff Bambrick said he was looking forward to having a packed premises and was eager to support the Zonta Rodeo Queen Quest entrants.
“The Kajabbi Yabby races are a long tradition but we haven’t really had them here since the pub shut down and re-opened,” he told North West Weekly.
“I’ve got a few yabbies already but we’ve got a back-up plan in case they don’t enjoy their new environment.”
Jeff said the key to getting the yabbies to race was by spraying them with water.
Krystal said she was counting down the days to Saturday.
“I’ve personally never been to a yabby race before, so I’m excited,” she said.
The youngest of the pair also praised her new friend, who she only met after they both became entrants in the Quest.
“Chloe’s the one holding us together – honestly, she’s the glue,” Krystal said.
“It’s been amazing to do stuff with Chloe because there are times when you’re feeling pretty flat but she’s always been there.”
The Kajabbi Yabby Races event begins in the early afternoon on Saturday and will run into the evening. All are welcome and those turning up are encouraged to bring cash for raffles and activities.