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Wednesday, August 13, 2025
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“What makes Warren so special” – tourism drive, photo competition
Warren Lions Club doing good things for community STORY: PAGE 10
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Learning about good relationships for WCS students, at “Loves Bites” STORY & PHOTOS: PAGE 5
Ben Rasmussen wins big at Mt Isa Rodeo
issues contributed to the event being placed into voluntary administration. The Queensland Government came to the rescue, supporting the 2025 event with a cash injection of $2 million, as reported by the ABC last December. This was after the government previously committed support for the event for a further three years in August 2023, announced by then-Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
By SHARON BONTHUYS Ben Rasmussen from Nevertire has a new trophy for the cabinet after taking out the 2025 Saddle Bronc title at last weekend’s prestigious Mount Isa Mines Rodeo. Now in its 66th year, the event in the far north-western Queensland city is described as “the southern hemisphere’s richest and most iconic rodeo”. Ben won the Saddle Bronc event, sponsored by prominent international brewing empire Lion Nathan XXX, with a score of 169 points. For the uninitiated, including this journalist, saddle bronc riding is what many people generally associate with rodeos - eight seconds of mayhem as riders attempt to stay aboard a bucking horse. They use a specialised saddle and a rein connected to a halter, but the strict rules applied mean riders must keep their free hand from touching the horse or equipment. Riders who last the eight seconds receive a score based on their skill and technique and the “difficulty” level of the horse. Last weekend’s event was Ben’s second visit to the iconic rodeo, which took place from
In promoting the event’s return on its website, the Mt Isa City Council commented that “the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is back for 2025 and back in community hands.”
Ben declared he will return to Mount Isa in the future to compete. Ben Rasmussen in action on “Moves Like Jagger” at the Alexandra Pro Rodeo earlier this year. PHOTO: FACEBOOK (THE CANON COWGIRL).
August 8-10 at Buchanan Park in Mount Isa. He was last there in 2018. Warren Star asked Ben what kind of preparation goes into preparing for the rodeo. As someone who has been riding since childhood and participating professionally in many rodeos in Australia and overseas in the past eight years or
so, competing has become second nature to the Nevertire 29-year-old. “Just practice, the horses at home, and a bit of fitness. A bit of just getting in the saddle through the week,” Ben said. Ben celebrated his birthday last Friday, August 8, on the first day of competition. Competing in the top-ten fi-
nal and winning the overall event was a great birthday present, he said. The win at Mount Isa also chalked up a special milestone. “This is probably my biggest win in Australia,” Ben said. From all reports, this year’s Mount Isa Mines Rodeo was very well patronised. Poor attendance last year and other
When Warren Star caught up with Ben, he was in transit on his way home to Nevertire from Mount Isa. But he won’t be home for long, with rodeos at Townsville and Walgett looming this weekend.
And, of course, he’s looking forward to his own home-town competition - the Nevertire Rodeo - which will take place on October 5. “Yeah, for concluded.
sure!”
he
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