HARVEY DICKSON'S RODEO
by Dave Roberts
How long since you went to a rodeo? I’ve got to fess up, I went last year and before that it was so long I couldn’t remember. Family took me, but I was young, the sixties is a long time back and I had no recollection.
So last October we loaded up the kids into the car and went to Boyup Brook for the rodeo at Harvey Dickson’s, and I have to say, what a hoot. This really is a cross cultural experience. People who live in cities or on the coast aren’t always in touch with the same crowd you’ll meet at a rodeo. Five minutes walking around and I’d seen guys with massive verandahs on their heads and facial hair you really could write home about.
The girls can be a little different too, probably not quite as obvious, but revelling in the cowboy lifestyle none the less.
And then the show itself. This is fun, people play serious sport with horses and great big cows (yes I |
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| know some are bulls and steers, but it’s a generic term). Throughout the whole show it wasn’t evident that anyone got hurt (or any animals either), but there were thrills and spills to be had and excitement aplenty. |
What did I like best? Bull riding looked great, and that gives an opportunity for the clowns to come out. Maybe the bravest guys in the show by my estimation, it’s their job to step in the arena with 900 plus kg of angry bull and keep its attention so the cowboy who just got spat off its back can get clear. Seems to me that being armed with a small umbrella is hardly adequate, but that’s what I saw, and they’re pretty impressive.
There are other events, and with no background I have no way of describing it to you but it was exciting and the sport looked fair dinkum. Just to be clear - men, women, horses, cows, thrills and spills are all involved and from really young to quite a bit older, we all enjoyed it.
I had a great time and I’d encourage anyone to have at least one look at it. Signs from Boyup Brook to Harvey Dickson’s are clear, and the Rodeo is on Friday 27 and Sat 28 October 2006. There are country bands in the evenings, and a quick call to Harvey produced the quote that “we’re getting real big boots here now, you could even be beamed around the world. MTV are going to be here”. Rose Dickson should be declared a living treasure, and while you’ll probably go to the kitchen for a burger, meeting Rose on a down time is worth a few moments.
Harvey really loves his shows, and he made sure to tell me that you can camp over on Friday night for $5 per site, and enjoy the “Rodeo Shindig” the night before. For those who just want to see the sporting side of the rodeo, mid morning Saturday is the start and it should be finished by about five, in time for cultural pursuits.
So for a phat time and a chance to enjoy country hosts, write the last weekend in October into your calendar and head to Boyup Brook. I really doubt you’ll be sorry.
October 2006
