Community
25 June, 2025
Rodeo event pays tribute to much-loved cowboy
The local station buckjump will be named in Eli Donovan's memory.
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo committee will pay tribute to one of northern Australia’s much-loved cowboys with a new event on the calendar.
This year’s August rodeo will feature the Eli Donovan Memorial Local Station Buckjump – an event that hasn’t always featured on the Buchanan Park program.
Eli, who died earlier this year at the age of just 25, was a beloved character on the rodeo circuit and was known for his toughness, having worked on properties in the North West and Northern Territory.
The Eli Donovan Memorial Local Station Buckjump will see regional jackaroos and jillaroos take centre stage in a raw and unfiltered bucking showdown.
There will also be a second new event on this year’s program, the Open Steer Ride, a platform for up-and-coming young riders.
“These events honour the heritage of the Isa and the hardworking people who keep the Outback ticking,” said Mark “Tommo” Thompson, chair of the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo committee.
“It’s about community pride, showcasing the incredible talent we have right here at home, and creating new pathways for local riders to rise.”