Community
3 August, 2025
Mum-of-three stunned to be named Rodeo Queen
Chloe Kalbfell is the Zonta Mount Isa Rodeo Queen for 2025.
Chloe Kalbfell didn’t sign up to be a Rodeo Queen – she did it because she wanted to make sure the popular Mount Isa tradition continued in the city she loves.
So when Zonta put up its hands to take over the competition from the Mount Isa Rodeo, she thought she had better nominate.
“I grew up watching the Queen Quest and the rodeo, obviously, and I realised that there hadn’t been a Queen for a few years ... I thought if I don’t sign up and no one else signs up then it’s not going to run again,” Chloe said.
“I was so lucky to have four others sign up with me because I think they made the Quest such a great success.”
The mother of three, who has called Mount Isa home since she was in nappies, raised more than $30,000 for the Mount Isa Hospital Auxiliary.
Chloe said she was blown away when her name was called out as the winner of the Zonta Mount Isa Rodeo Queen at Saturday night’s ball, which was sponsored by Lee and Linda Pulman from Bell & Moir Toyota.
“It’s very overwhelming. It’s very exciting,” she told North West Weekly on Sunday morning.
“It’s such a nice reward at the end of a really long, hard, but fun eight months.”
Chloe admitted she didn’t know how she’d fare heading into the night, with all five contestants forced to sit down in front of a panel of three independent judges to work out the winner.
“I knew that I had done everything I could and I knew it was out of my hands,” she said.
“And it was a shock when my name was read out, but I was so proud to be standing beside Krystal (Wright) after she had just won Charity Queen.”
While winning means a lot, Chloe said the friendship she had formed with Krystal had made the whole experience worthwhile.
“That means the most to me. Krystal is a bit younger than me, so I didn’t know her through school even though we both grew up here,” she said.
“We were both very shy and quiet in the beginning and it actually wasn’t until I had read her calendar and said, ‘oh you’ve got a pistol day planned, I’ve got a pistol day planned’ and we were like, ‘let’s do a pistol day’.
“From there, we met up every week. We go shopping together, we work next door to each other so we have lunch together and it’s more than just the Queen Quest – I’m going to her baby shower this weekend.”
The dynamic duo famously put on the Kajabbi Yabby Races at the Kalkadoon Hotel, bringing back an old North West pastime that drew hundreds of patrons.
Chloe praised the Zonta Club of Mount Isa for taking on the Queen Quest and paid special tribute to coordinators Debbie Huddy and Loretta Gladstone, as well as Sue Wicks, for their hard work to make sure the year ran smoothly.
She also praised her team for their dedication.
“I’m so lucky to have my village around me,” Chloe said.
“My in-laws have had my kids more times than I can count; I’ve brought my kids along to events – the community has been fantastic.
“I tried to hold a lot of events where my kids could come with me. And I did this for them, too.
“I wanted to show them what they can do to make a difference and give back to other people as well.
“My husband, David, he’s been amazing through the whole thing.
“He often says that he’s the one who deserves the crown. So I let him try the crown on last night just to see what it feels like!”
Chloe said she hoped the Mount Isa Hospital Auxiliary would use the funds towards much-needed equipment and services.
“I chose them as my charity so they can give comforts to staff and patients and whatever they need it for,” she said.