Flood-impacted outback community Eromanga comes together for rodeo

ABC NEWS (Australia)

An Easter rodeo is Queensland’s far southwest has proved a much-needed morale-boost after the region was hit by record breaking rain and flooding almost one-month ago. Graziers in the region are still coming to terms with the aftermath and for some it’s been the first opportunity to talk about it.

Transcript

00:00It's a highly anticipated event in the Outback calendar.

00:10But this year's rodeo in the tiny town of Eremanga has taken on new meaning.

00:15Today was more about our community than our event.

00:20Eremanga is one of many communities picking up the pieces after flood waters devastated the state's west.

00:27While the town itself remained mostly unscathed, nearby properties were not so lucky.

00:32Everyone had a run of several good years up here, and everyone's carrying large numbers of stock.

00:38And they said, oh, finally on top, and it's gone.

00:41We lost 90% of our stud down the Wilson River, and that's tough.

00:47You just have to decide, don't you, whether you're going to rebuild and start again,

00:51or whether you're going to walk away. And my husband and I don't walk away easily.

00:55Despite graziers still counting the losses, organisers pulled together to make the rodeo happen.

01:00It was a bit of a rush, but we got it together in the end.

01:04Everyone is in the same boat, although the scale might be different for some.

01:08Everyone went through it.

01:09I think a lot of people still are in shock.

01:11I think a lot of people probably still haven't come to the real truth of it.

01:16Because most people still haven't mustered their sheep and cattle.

01:20Last month, these rodeo grounds were flooded. Now the water has receded.

01:24Locals can come together, share a laugh, and support one another.

01:28And that's people in the bush in general, mate. We'll just make it work.

01:31The competition in the arena this weekend coming second to social connection.

01:36A resilient community staying optimistic.

01:42We're back, baby!

01:44I think the future out here is quite strong.

01:46Hopefully, you know, we'll see good prices out the other end for the livestock producers

01:51and hopefully a good tourist season for the towns.

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