And this may be why – the dismount is never elegant, but a flight takes it to a new level.

The population of Mt Isa almost doubles from 22,000 to around 40,000 for Rodeo week, peaking over the three days of the rodeo, the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere.  Although the last time I went to a rodeo would be 35 or 40 years ago (my next oldest brother used to compete in his youth) I have a more than basic knowledge of rodeo events and terminology. I’m stunned I recall what terms such as *mark out, pigging string and hazing mean.  Perhaps dementia is not as imminent as I fear.

To ensure an ongoing level of interest and excitement – as if watching people risk life and limb riding bucking bulls or horses or wrestling long horned steers to the ground could fail to excite – the program runs with changes of event every 10 -15 contestants: there’s barrel racing then saddle bronc ride, then bull ride, then calf roping and so on. For the bucking events 10 chutes means the action is constant: no waiting around for cowboys to gear up or stock to be loaded. Video cameras mounted over the chutes project to two big screens so you can see the detail of the preparations.

Bull riding is the most dangerous – do I even have to say that? yet attracts a huge number of contestants. This year there is a new event, Over 45s bull Riding. That there are only five contestants either means bull riders don’t live long, or they gain some sense at some point. Riding an 800kg beast that absolutely does not want you on his back seems akin to spending half an hour in a rotating concrete mixer. Mind you, there wouldn’t be $30,000 up for grabs in the concrete mixer. The bulls are armed with a decent set of horns and buckets of snot: competitors need balls at least as big as the bull’s. Protective vests made of high impact foam are mandatory, and it’s good to see many elect to wear helmets, but I suspect no-one at the local hospital was allowed leave this weekend.

The junior (under 18) barrel race has young people at every stage of riding development. The young woman who wins this event does it in a faster time than the winner of the Open event. A few very little kids aren’t sure where they are going, and nor are the horses. Mum comes out and helps one,  and another is a little unicorn painted pony ridden by a 4 year old girl, wearing a tutu, who was led around the barrels by her brother, age about 6 and wearing angel wings.

The whole rodeo and associated events are incredibly well run. The food trucks and bars are cashless, so on entry we get a wristband with a chip inserted, then at the Rodeo Bank load up the chip. Speaking of chips, the food options are limited to those guaranteed to result in a slow but steady hardening of the arteries, if not immediate cardiac arrest. There is a market where cowboy and outback related items such as jeans, shirts, belts, buckles, camping gear are sold. And a fun fair with the usual sideshows, rides and ripoffs.

Finals Day and the events finish at 3.00 so they can set up for the big concert, featuring Brad Cox, Busby Marou and the “name” star, Johnny Farnham.

Johnny Farnham, at 70, is generally perceived to be Australia’s most well known recording artist.  His fame came in 1968 with the hideous novelty song Sadie, the Cleaning Lady, which unfortunately someone calls for, and which he sings. The guy still has a great voice, but his stage manner and between song cynical banter leaves me with the impression he’d rather be in his hotel room with a bottle of whiskey and a prostitute, boring her with stories of when he was a big star.

We are in the part of the country where work and life take no prisoners, and it they did they’d be lucky to get bread and water. Surrounded by stations and mines, the reality is Mt Isa is a mining town producing copper and zinc-lead-silver. About a third of the population are employed in mine related work. The smelter and its chimneys dominate the town across the the river. I just love the smell of sulphur dioxide in the morning.

Stay safe kids.

*Mark out – what saddle bronc and bareback riders have to do – as they exit the chute their spurs must be in front of the horse’s shoulders. Pigging string – the small rope used to tie a calf’s legs in calf roping. Hazing – a cowboy rides on the opposite side of a steer in steer wrestling, keeping it in line for the steer wrestler