PHOTO: Coonamble Shire Council’s General Manager Paul Gallagher with Rodeo & Campdraft Secretary Steven Butler near the paddock where a temporary campsite will be developed for the June Long Weekend.
THE Coonamble Rodeo & Campdraft Association and Coonamble Shire Council have expanded their partnership to make it easier for visitors to enjoy the full June long weekend experience.
While good prizemoney promises to lure competitors to Coonamble for the event, a packed program plus new camping options will be an extra drawcard.
“2022 was our biggest ever and we’re aiming to be even bigger and better this year,” said Committee Secretary Steven Butler.
With at least 66 previous events under their shiny belts, the organising team have mastered the art of giving the crowds a rich and authentic rodeo experience from dawn until well after dark.
Special drawcards to continue
After trialling as a new feature event last year, the Saturday Night Shootout will be back with the top six contenders in the Open Bull Ride and the Open Saddle Bronc battling it out in a one-round, winner-takes-all opportunity to add an extra thousand dollars to their prize purse.
Another $1000 is on offer in the Frankie Hodgson Memorial Poley Buckjump, with entries wide open to any nominating rider.
“These have become annual highlights on our program,” Mr Butler said. “These special events mean more reasons to stick around after the main rodeo events end at around 6 o’clock.”
Live music and rodeo have always gone hand in hand with the Coonamble Long Weekend Rodeo and the ever-popular Dan Murphy will be playing in the XXXX Bar on Saturday night, followed on Sunday night by Duncan Ferguson at the Stockman & Co bar in the Showground Pavilion.
Expanded camping a “win/win”
For visitors, 2023 marks the first year that campsites will be opened just across the road from the main arena.
Coonamble Shire Council General Manager Paul Gallagher describes the decision to open the temporary campsites on a section of leased Crown Land Reserve opposite the Showground as “a win/win”.
“There were complaints last year when the overflow of people camping were permitted to set up within the town sportsground,” he said. “It is prudent that we ensure this situation is better managed in the future.”
As close to the action as you can get while preserving the onsite camping for an ever-growing contingent of competitors, the unpowered campsites will be security-supervised, have toilets on site and lighting towers at key points.
“We’re responding to requests from travelers as far afield as Tasmania and the Territory,” Mr Butler says.
“The town’s accommodation can get booked out and this campsite is a stone’s throw from the showers at the local caravan park.”
“Coonamble Shire Council has really got behind us and we’ve put away a few acres adjacent to the showground that they’ll prepare for us.”
The Rodeo Committee have secured insurance for the additional camping area.
Council will apply for a speed reduction on the highway with special signage and provide both a gateway for vehicle access and a separate pedestrian gateway.
They will also assist by slashing the paddock and laneway and grading around the boundary to clear any fire danger.
Visitors will be encouraged to ‘park and play’ for the weekend because they can just walk across to the rodeo ground or catch a courtesy bus into town.
The action gets underway on Friday 9 June with the Campdraft competition expanding to accommodate more nominations.
“We always get more than 1500 campdraft nominations and have to turn people away,” Mr Butler said.
“We’ve been very fortunate that a local grazier has offered up to 2000 head of cattle if we need them.”
“The interest in these sports continues to grow – we already have 80 nominations for the novice barrel racing – it’s huge,” he said.
After the main rodeo and campdraft events on Saturday and Sunday, Junior Rodeo events run predominantly on Monday 11 June, although you’ll still see the Mini Bulls featuring throughout the weekend.
Dedicated local volunteers for the Coonamble Rotary Club and Coonamble Bears Rugby League will ensure the crowds remain well fed throughout the weekend.
A wide variety of retail stalls will also be on hand to kit out competitors and spectators with everything they need.
Tickets for both the event and the camping are available on 123Tix.