The annual Daly Waters Rodeo held on the May Day weekend brought out the best local cowboys keen to try their hand with the broncs and bulls.
Novices and champions alike they all rose to the challenge competing successfully with rodeo riders from outside the region in this important full rodeo and camp draft. The Daly Water Rodeo and Camp Draft offers substantial cash prizes and status amongst rodeo riders and camp drafters. It draws novices and professionals alike and is a popular event for spectators massively swelling the iconic town’s tiny permanent resident population of about 15 people.
Daly Waters located in the Roper Gulf Region, is in the middle of the top end and in the heart of cattle country. It has a local European history going back to the early 1880’s as a staging point for cattle, the overland telegraph the railway, early air transport and as a wartime base. Its history of Aboriginal occupation goes back tens of thousands of years. Daly Waters is an important tourist stop for people travelling the Stuart Highway. Its historic pub is legendary.
The rodeo and camp draft brought the little town alive. Big hats, riding boots, big belt buckles and western gear; beaut utes and big 4 wheel drives covered in stickers and big aerials; cattle dogs and horse floats were all the go. These were being worn and driven by men and women bigger than the territory!
As rodeo day approached there was a real feeling of excitement and a tangible smell of the coming battles between man (and women) and horses and bulls. Proceeded by the skill and speed of the camp drafting, it was a strange and potent mixture of dust, sweat, bravery, bluster and expectation highlighted by this special place in this very remote historic town.
Even the unsung heroes of the day, the bucking broncos and those massive bundles of muscle, the bulls, seemed to be twitching ready to let loose knowing their role in the coming drama.
The competition day buzzed and well and truly met its promise, a willing spectacle full of spills and thrills, highs and lows, new heroes and bruised egos… and the night was just as much of a party.
As the weekend came to an end cowboys and cowgirls, competitors and spectators alike, limped off home to lick their wounds and lord their successes excited by the experience and declaring they would be back next year to do it all over again.
Rodeos are a unique experience high lighting both the history of the region, the existing culture here in the heart of cattle country and are just great theatre and sport.
There is no better place to see rodeo and camp drafting than in the Roper Gulf Region.
The next big rodeo in the Roper Gulf Region is at Borroloola on the 15- 17th August.
For further details please direct your inquiries to Michael Berto, CEO Roper Gulf Regional Council on 08 8972 9000.
ENDS