RODEO HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES RETURN TO ISA LEGENDS
Mount Isa Mines Rodeo
RODEO HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES RETURN TO ISA LEGENDS
After a year of pause, the Hall of Fame Inductee Dinner returns to the legendary Mount Isa Mines Rodeo, once again shining a spotlight on the people whose passion, service and grit have shaped the very soul of this iconic outback event.
The Mount Isa Rodeo wasn’t built by accident, it has been built by hands, heart, and generations of volunteers, competitors and community champions who turned a regional rodeo into the largest and most celebrated rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere. This year, two extraordinary names join the Hall of Fame: Terry Lees OAM and Neville McCarthy, each representing a different but equally powerful thread in the Isa Rodeo story: one of service and community, the other of elite sporting excellence.
TERRY LEES OAM
Volunteer. Leader. Builder of community legacy.
Terry Lees OAM is recognised as part of the heartbeat of the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo’s volunteer-driven era, a generation of Rotarians and community builders whose work quietly shaped what is experienced today. With “three great passions in rodeo, radio and Rotary”, Terry first became involved in 1976, later serving as Chairman of the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo during a defining period of growth and evolution. At a time when the rodeo was powered almost entirely by volunteers, Terry was part of the working backbone of the event; the people who built fences, coordinated working bees, welcomed competitors, managed logistics, and helped transform the Isa Rodeo into a nationally significant tourism and sporting spectacle.
Under this era of leadership and community energy, the rodeo strengthened its ties with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association circuit, expanded its reach, and continued to raise money for community projects and local charities.
As Terry reflects: “I am deeply honoured and genuinely humbled to accept induction into the Isa Rodeo Hall of Fame… The Isa Rodeo has always represented far more than a rodeo to me, it reflects the spirit, resilience, and generosity of the Mount Isa community.”
NEVILLE McCARTHY
Champion saddle bronc rider. National titleholder.
Neville McCarthy’s name sits among the greats of Australian saddle bronc riding; he’s a three-time APRA Australian Champion whose career defined an era of elite rough stock competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
His consistency, control and competitive instinct saw him rise to the top of the sport during a golden period for Australian rodeo, when Mount Isa was already firmly established as the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere and a magnet for the nation’s best riders. Isa has always been where champions come to prove themselves, and Neville McCarthy was no exception. Competing during a time when the sport demanded absolute toughness, precision and courage, Neville’s achievements placed him firmly among Australia’s most respected rodeo athletes. His induction into the Hall of Fame honours a career that helped shape the reputation and legacy of Australian rodeo, and recognises a rider whose influence continues to be felt across the sport today.
The Hall of Fame exists to acknowledge those whose contribution extends far beyond competition or event delivery, to honour individuals whose impact has shaped the identity of the Isa Rodeo itself, from the volunteers who built it to the champions who defined it.
ABOUT Mount Isa Mines Rodeo – it is the largest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the biggest in the world. It’s where champions return to defend their titles, rising stars carve their names into history, and eight electrifying seconds can feel like an eternity. For three adrenaline-fueled days, Mount Isa in Outback Queensland comes alive with the raw power of bull riding, bronc busting, barrel racing, roping and more, as the world’s toughest cowboys and cowgirls battle for some of the most coveted buckles in rodeo. Since 1959, the red dust of Mount Isa has risen beneath hooves, boots, and the roar of the crowd. The rodeo is the heartbeat of Outback Queensland, and an event that welcomes riders and fans from all over the globe.
2026 MOUNT ISA MINES RODEO presented by Akubra
Fri 7th August – Sun 9th August 2026
Buchanan Park Events Complex, George St & Sutton St, Mount Isa QLD 4825
Website: www.mountisarodeo.com.au
Daily Entry Passes – Friday 7th August, Saturday 8th August and Sunday 9 August 2026
Adult (18+) $50
Pensioner $35
Child (8-17 years) $20
Child (0-7) free
Family Day Pass (2 adults + 3 children) $120 children must be accompanied by an adult
Three Day Rodeo Passes
Adult (18+) $120
Pensioner $90
Family $300 all Children must be accompanied by an adult
Camping – same prices as 2025
- Three day unpowered – ($200 per site) up to 4 people, then additional charge per person
- Five day powered – ($350 per site) up to 4 people, then additional charge per person
- Five day unpowered – ($300 per site) up to 4 people, then additional charge per person
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For media interviews or imagery, please contact Kath Rose on [email protected] or 0416 291 493
Contact details:
Kath Rose on [email protected] or 0416 291 493
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Neville McCarthy's name sits among the greats of Australian saddle bronc riding; he's a three-time APRA Australian Champion whose career defined an era of elite rough stock competition in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
