General News
12 August, 2025
Mount Isa Rodeo 'the best ever', says legendary stock contractor
The revived event drew praise from far and wide.
When Malcolm Gill says it’s the best rodeo he’s ever been to, you know you’ve put on a great show.
The legendary stock contractor was full of praise for the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, paying tribute to the locally-led board for returning the event to its former glory.
“I’ve been coming here since I was 18 years old, riding first, then we’ve contracted here right through the late 90s and early 2000s, but last night would go down as the best performance rodeo that I’ve ever witnessed in Australia,” Malcolm said of Saturday night at Buchanan Park.
What made it so special?
“The crowd, the personnel, the bucking stock, the riders, and definitely being in Mount Isa,” the 61-year-old said.
“I’m the fifth generation of our family that’s been in rodeo, so I guess we’re getting up to about 120 years now.”
Malcolm, who runs Gill Bros Rodeo with his brother Eddie, is known for producing the best bucking bulls and horses in the southern hemisphere.
“Look, it was political reasons why we were moved on (from the Mount Isa Rodeo) and I don’t want to go into that, but we’ve been given the opportunity to come back and we’ve shown exactly what we are and what we can do,” he said, after the previous Isa Rodeo Ltd board rejected the Gill Bros.
“We own the best bucking stock in the country, and we have the support of all the best riders, and I think you’ll be seeing us in Mount Isa for many more years to come.”
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo chair Mark “Tommo” Thompson was a tired but happy man when speaking with North West Weekly on Monday morning.
“It was unreal; I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” he said.
“We know we didn’t get everything right – the lines were too long to get a drink on Saturday night – but we’ll fix that next year and just keep on improving.
“The feedback from locals has been very positive and that’s what we wanted – to put on a great show for the local community.”
Tommo, who welcomed a new addition to his family just a few days prior to the rodeo, was walking on cloud nine after he also celebrated a personal achievement on Sunday afternoon – his first ever Mount Isa Rodeo buckle.
The veteran teamed up with Cloncurry’s Colin Ferguson to win the Over 55s Team Roping, with Tommo tasked as the header.
“I feel very proud,” he said, having missed out narrowly several times, particularly in the street wrestling.
Around 15,000 piled through the gates over the three days of the rodeo but an estimated 8000 were inside Buchanan Park on Saturday.
“I’ve been here every year since it opened in 2007 and that’s the biggest crowd I’ve seen,” said Tommo, who thanked those for responding to $50 admission and cheaper drink prices.
“It’s a bit overwhelming, actually. I’m just proud of what we’ve all achieved.
“We were hoping that everyone would support us and we were thinking that they would, but until you see so many people, you just don’t realise how much the rodeo means to the community.”
Tommo praised the cohort of volunteers who made the weekend possible.
“It wasn’t just the board who put their hand up, it was the people at the gates, the people behind the bars and all those other little roles,” he said.
“I had my brother come up from Brisbane and he brought his son-in-law to help me in the bars. He’s got a lot of experience in running bars and it just gave us some help there. There were so many local people who got involved, including those service groups like Apex and Rotary, and sporting clubs.”
“We can’t run these events without those people because if we’ve got to pay big money to get everyone to do those jobs, we just can’t afford it.”
Charters Towers cowboy Tate Van Wel said he was chuffed to add Mount Isa to his resume as an announcer. He joined a crack line-up of talent on the microphone to ensure the crowd was kept informed and entertained across the three days.
“Mate, it’s great, I’ve been a competitor at Mount Isa for the last five or so years. This is my first year announcing; it’s fantastic,” he told North West Weekly.
“It’s great to have it back in local hands. I was actually saying to my mum last night on the phone, it feels like the spirit’s come back into it. Everyone’s hooking in and really helping out.”
Van Wel, who continues to grow in stature on the rodeo circuit, said there was no bigger thrill than announcing in Mount Isa.
“It’s pretty cool. I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself.
“It’s nice to be in front of a packed house.
“I mean, Mount Isa love it and the travellers love it. And we get to play a lot of games and have a lot of fun with the crowd as well.
“But it’s nice to see a lot of locals back enjoying one of the great rodeos.”
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter praised the Mount Isa Rodeo board for going back to basics and putting on a great local event.
“There may not be the gold-plated, international rock-star event out the back, but we reckon Luke Geiger is as good as anyone,” the MP said of the headline act.
“There aren’t any flashy exclusive dining marques, but we just love having a beer on the rail, having a yarn to everyone we bump into.
“Well done Tommo and the board, and well done Mount Isa.”