Community & Business
1 February, 2023
Oakey Rodeo celebrates 50 years
Nostalgia will be in abundance at the Oakey Showgrounds on the 4th February as the Show Society commemorates 50 years since its first rodeo.
Bryan Kofoed fondly remembers the origins of the Oakey Rodeo.
When he and wife Marlene moved to the Oakey district, they were keen to meet the locals, so decided to join the Show Society, where they discovered that the group were in need of funds.
The decision was made to host a rodeo.
There were no rodeo facilities in existence at the Showgrounds, but Lisle Chicken (who was not a member of the Show Society) offered timber free of charge from his Cooyar property to build the yards.
Society members including Bryan, Ted Biltoft and others, accompanied by Lisley cut the Timber and carted it to Oakey.
There was a flurry of building activity and the new facilities were completed the day prior to the first rodeo.
Although primitive by today's standards, the rodeo was very successful.
The announcer was positioned on the back of a truck and the ladies catered for the event from a tent.
The rodeos were always held on the first Sunday in February commencing at 10am, following the Rodeo Ball on the Saturday night.
Nominations were huge in those days with often 50 competitors in the Saddle ride, 40 in the Bareback and 80 in the Bull ride.
On one occasion, the rodeo finished in the dark by torch light at the end of the day.
The event was run by a separate Rodeo Committee which reported back to the Show Society.
Danny Moran from Tara supplied the horses for the rode, while Lloyd Morgan, a legendary character from Bowenville supplied the bulls each year free of charge.
This generosity greatly assisted in monetary terms in establishing the rodeo.
Lloyd Morgan was one of the first to buck bulls in the country.
At one stage, he was fattening around 150 bulls annually for rodeos.
One of the first bulls to be bucked was name "Ice Cream" who proved to be more than a match for many of the top cowboys.
Many champion bulls were owned by Lloyd and throughout Australia several were named 'Bucking Bull of the Year'.
Winnie, Lloyd's wife, helped him number the bulls before they were trucked off to a rodeo.
On the back of cornflakes box, she recorded the names of all bulls, and different divisions.
She would document the rider's name at the rodeo, and their score.
This way, Lloyd knew whether the bulls were good enough to take to further rodeos.
During the past 50 years, it is thought only three rodeos were cancelled because of rain, and two due to COVID.
The Toowoomba Chronicle reported on Thursday February 8 1973 that the first Oakey Rodeo Ball was held in the R.S.L. Hall on Saturday and was a great success both socially and financially.
Door takings were in excess of $500.
Miss Carmel Haydock of Mt. Tyson was judged Rodeo Queen.
Best cowgirl outfit was awarded to Norma Weise and best cowboy outfit to Dudley Schefe.
The judges were Mr. D.T. McVeigh, Federal Member for Darling Downs and Mrs. McVeigh and Mr. and Mrs P. McVeigh of Dalby.
Continuous dancing was provided by two orchestras featuring country and western singers.
Popular dance band of the 60s and 70s, 'Ronnie and the Ramblers' provided the music some years, as well as Reg Lindsay one year and Reg Poole another year.
This year's rodeo entertainment will be provided by Riley Young Music.
During the past 50 years, facilities have been gradually improved as funds have become available.
