Waking early on a cool Southern Highlands Sunday morning to the sound of rain did not fill our enthusiasm metre with energy to shower, have a coffee and make sandwiches for a day trip to Taralga rodeo. But with our mantra for 2012 being‘ because life should be a festival’ we motivated ourselves to pack a dozen frozen bottles of drinking water, a pile of vegimite 'sangers' plus fruit and extra snacks like crackers with cheese to get ready for the day.
Our 4 sleepy children ruffled through the shoe boxes to find a pair of leather boots to go with old blue jeans and collared shirts and before we knew it we were on our way to the sound of the Sunny Cow Girls coming from the CD player.
We drove away from the rain towards a small town north of Goulburn, NSW, which sits in between Canberra and Sydney. If you follow the road a little further north it will take you to the popular tourist destination of Wombeyan Caves with it's adjacent camping areas.Oberon is only a couple of hours away for those with a bit more time.
The Taralga rodeo is on the Sunday of each Australia Day weekend and follows after a couple of busy days of gymkhanaas, campdrafts and a country music night. The land is flatter and drier out this way, apparently it has never rained at the Taralga rodeo with the Camp Draft being washed out just once in the last forty years or so.
With the Rodeo barely signposted for us visitors, we were welcomed warmly into the showground just off the main street. It wasn't hard to find!
Our black family wagon looked well out of place surrounded by white dusty utes and trucks, all harbouring a swag or 2, either rolled up or containing the remnants of a non –competing cowboy still asleep from the previous late night’s festivities at the country music event.
There were a small number of sideshow arcades and food outlets (5) and the large number of wide brimmed white cowboy hats (hundreds), that could stay on any head except some of the bronco riders under ‘extreme conditions’.
The rodeo had a full day’s program including bareback and saddled events on unwilling steers, broncos and bulls. There were professional, novice, women’s and comedic events.
We were mesmerised by the skill and courage of the extreme sportsmen and women and the talented field marshalls whose job it was to make sure the competitors were out of danger by siding up to the feisty animal to harbour the cowboy or divert it if they fell off. They also had to guide the animals back to their rightful places behind the metal fencing.
Thanks to a very engaging commentator as novice rodeo goers we were able to grasp what was going on in the ring and feel comfortable about when to cheer competitors on and groan in commiseration. The action was non-stop and totally absorbing.
A doctor, paramedic and ambulance were on standby with ringside seats though seldom employed throughout hte day although we did witness a few cowboys with bandaged limbs towards the end of the day. There was a sea of zoom lens surrounding the arean as the dozens of budding photographers tried to capture the perfect shot to enter into the popular photo competition that is a part of the event.
It was encouraging to see a community activity that wasn’t weighed down by OH&S rules for a change with a country wise crowd acting sensibly throughout.
We managed to clear out the esky of tucker and drinks quite easily, which left room for a couple of ice creams before the day was through. Whilst many of the competitors came from further afieled it appeared very much a local affair, the food canteen, bar and raffle stalls were staffed and very busy all day long. Profits go directly back into the local community with tangible outcomes lik a new toilet block or significant financial support for Taralga’s old aged care.
In the whole day, I never did have the courage to ask what those fancy trousers were to go over jeans. As a practical person from the suburbs, I assumed that the cowboys’ wives wanted them to come home clean and made them put on some overpants for just that. Anyway, it turns out that leather ‘chaps’ have been used since the early 1800s and today's rodeo cowboys ‘wear them for protection against bull horns and from being bitten by wild broncos’ Read more
Our Sunday at the rodeo was an excellent day for our family. It was engaging, exciting and very reasonably priced at $20 an adult with children under 12 free. Finn (10) is already planning his debut at an upcoming rodeo to ride a potty calf.
When? Every Australia Day Weekend
Where? Taralga, NSW. 2 1/2 hours from Sydney or 1 1/2 hours from Canberra.
Camping facilities are offered with hot showers at no charge. Food is available throughout the function.
Entries for participation in the Rodeo can be placed at www.abcra.com.au. For more information please contact us: (02) 4840 2074 or 0437 771 319, email cossietaralga1@bigpond.com
An entry form for the Photo Competition can be downloaded HERE....
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