General News
5 September, 2025
Local business full of praise for Mount Isa Rodeo's new approach
Schafer Security Services won the contract to service this year's Mount Isa Mines Rodeo.
A North West company has praised the new all-local board of the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo after it was one of the event's many beneficiaries following a major upheaval.
Tony and Cherie Schafer from Normanton-based Schafer Security Services said winning the contract to work this year’s rodeo was a coup for the business.
“It was probably an honour for me,” said Tony.
“You know, growing up in Mount Isa, I watched the rodeo and I would never have expected to one day be looking after the security at it.
“It was good, really good.”
No stranger to events around the Gulf and North West, the Schafers have worked at just about every major event in the region – except the famed Mount Isa Rodeo.
The previous management, before it ran the event into the ground, had used a non-local security company with close ties to rodeo executives.
“We might seem small, but we have around 30 people on the books,” said Cherie, who grew up in the Gulf and is now a Carpentaria Shire councillor.
Tony added, “It’s a big responsibility. There is a lot involved. It’s great having her do all of the important stuff behind the scenes.
“I think what worked in our favour this year is that we had previous experience with the committee and some of the other rodeos in the region.
“We’ve built that relationship and trust with them.”
Mount Isa Rodeo chairman Mark “Tommo” Thompson praised the work of Schafer Security Services for their diligence across the three-day event.
“From all reports, there were no major incidents and everyone was on their best behaviour,” he said.
“It helps having Tony and Cherie running the show because they see a lot of these people at different events, and they know who the troublemakers are.
“One of the things we wanted to do as a board was support the local community as much as possible. It made sense to use a local security company because they know the people and the money they earn goes back into the local economy.”
Tony, who used to work Mount Isa’s notorious nightclub scene back in the day, said a lot had changed from his younger years.
“Now it’s about being vigilant and spotting something that could go wrong before it does,” he told North West Weekly.
“One thing you have to do now is talk people through situations. The best thing you can do is communicate.
Cherie said the business had built up to employ a steady number of local people living in the likes of Normanton, Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
“It does help with these kinds of events because they deal with the general public day to day,” she said.
“It makes a big difference.”
She added that many noticed the increasing number of female security officers.
“We like to be extremely diverse,” Cherie said.
“We also try to hire people or upskill and train people from the local communities that we work in.
“I think having a number of female guards makes a difference because a lot of the ladies would prefer to come up to one of us if they think their drink was spiked or someone is hassling them.
“And I think the women can be very diligent.
“They’re excellent with the ID checking and the bag checking and all of that. But I think they also have that softer approach, especially when talking to the young ones.
“A lot of them are mums themselves, so you’ve got that little bit of a mum vibe when you’re talking to the young ones who are having a night out.”
Tony praised the likes of the Mount Isa Race Club for backing Schafer Security Services, paving the way for his family operation to grow.
“We’ve been doing the Mailman (Express) for a number of years and the club has been great to us,” he said.
“Even on rodeo weekend, they offered up the jockeys’ rooms for us to stay, which helps save us a few dollars.
“Getting accommodation in Mount Isa during rodeo week is hard and expensive. I don’t mind rolling the swag out, so to have a quiet room and a hot shower makes a big difference.”
