Cloncurry Events

Friday, August 3, 2012

Curry Merry Muster Festival (Rodeo)

Each year, thousands make their way to Cloncurry for one of outback Australia's leading events.  The Ernest Henry Mining Curry Merry Muster Festival boasts a leading professional rodeo, Merry Muster Race Meeting, Mardi Gras, street parade and 3 day festival of family entertainment.

Steeped in history, the event was kick-off over 50 years ago in 1954.  Back in those days, the men and women who got together to start the first Merry Muster, would never of anticipated that this event would have ended up being the largest gathering in Cloncurry every year.

Merry Muster Program at a glance:

Merry Muster is now not just about rodeo. It is a celebration for the entire community.

With the reintroduction of the street party to kick start the whole event, it sees the greater part of the community come together for Mardi Gras street parade and festival. A time for the whole family to enjoy.

About the Rodeo:

The Curry Merry Muster Festival is now renowned as one of the leading professional Rodeo’s in Australia. The Merry Muster has developed in recent years to be the largest single payout rodeo in Australia.

The stock used have improved from brumbies and local stock in the early days to highly professional and talented string contracted rough stock. Our main contractors are Gill Brothers and Allen and Jenny Remfrey. The Merry Muster is affiliated with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) and conforms to their guidelines to make the rodeo an event with some of the most professional standards for competitors, livestock, officials and most importantly spectators.

The Merry Muster the largest single payout rodeo in Australia because when a contestant wins an event at our rodeo, they will win more money for a single ride than at any other rodeo event in Australia.

START DECORATING YOUR FLOAT NOW FOR THE CURRY MERRY MUSTER FESTIVAL MARDI GRAS STREET PARADE

Street Parade

The iconic Street Parade has been apart of the “Merry Muster” for many years. The local community groups come together to showcase their themed floats or vehicle entries to the Cloncurry spectators! In 2012, “Board Games” is the theme which will bring many coloured floats, boasting the odd game or two everyone has played in their lifetime!      

The procession will be formally led by a Police Escort & Fire Engine, then followed by the marching horses parading Sponsors flags and promoting the APRA Rodeo circuit. We take pride involving competitors within the parade as well, so look out for Australian Champions like Shane Kenny, Cherie O’Donoghue and Australia’s Rodeo Queen.

Procession to start 6pm Friday 3rd August 2012. Keep an eye out in Ramsay Street & Scarr Street, Cloncurry!

Bushmans Bash

The Bushmans Bash follows on from the Street Parade at the Cloncurry Recreational Showgrounds on King Street. There you will be entertained, wowed by a taste of Rodeo, fed by the numerous amounts of stalls held by the local community groups and organisations, and simply watered and our golden waterhole.

Awards will be given to the winners of the Street Parade early in the night followed by Rodeo action to start at 7pm. Featured events will include the Open Bull Ride and Open Saddle Bronc.

The Bushmans Bash is a free fun night for all. So gates on King Street will be open for the public and please be kind to donate when you see the volunteers going around for gold coin donations.

Teddy Bears Picnic                                                    

Created in 2011, the Teddy Bears Picnic helped children under 5 participate within the festival in a friendly way. Children are encouraged to dress their Teddies up in a Picnic outfit and compete against others for a prize within their age group. There are also activities such as a Bear Hunt, Honey Pot Poking and Face Painting.

Of course there are picnic goodies to be had, all of course generously donated by the Curry Merry Muster Festival. The Teddy Bears Picnic is a small but successful start to an amazing weekend, which starts at 9am, Mary Kathleen Park, McIlwraith St, Cloncurry.

Over $1500 in prizes up for offer! Celebrate this fantastic event and have fun creating your float. Afterwards street party with entertainement, jump zone, games for the kids, food, Bushman's Bash and lots more.

Schedule

Three days of extreme sports, entertainment and fun for the whole family, the 2012 Ernest Henry Mining Curry Merry Muster Festival promises an action packed weekend in a unique outback location. For all the latest updates, become a fan of the Merry Muster on Facebook.

Thursday, 2nd August 6pm

Barefoot Bowls @ Cloncurry Bowls Club

THEME: OLYMPICS
Come and join in on some “Barefoot” action! Truly draws the crowds to have an awesome night and maybe become a winner in some of the “quick draws”. Celebrating the 2012 Olympics, come dressed as your favourite Olympian, Team, Country or Event!  

Friday, 3rd August 9am – 11am

Country Teddy Bears Picnic (Mary Kathleen Memorial Park) Get the kids together and come to the Park for a morning of activities and picnic! Plus dress your teddies in his favourite “Picnic” outfit and go in the competition to win some fabulous prizes. *Gold coin donation.

5.30pm  Street Parade Marshalling, (Station Street, Q Link)  

6pm Street Parade – 

THEME: "BOARD GAMES PARADE"
(Cloncurry CBD)

Get your ideas together and get your colourful float to come along! Popular Board Games are: Scrabble, Monopoly, Hungry Hippos, Life, Battleships, Ker Plunk, Snakes and Ladders, Yahtzee, Twister the list is endless!!

7pm Live Rodeo Action at its BEST!!
   
8pm-late Live Entertainment 

Saturday, 4th August 8am 

Rodeo Competitors prepare for Man Vs Beast
Curry Merry Muster Festival Begins
Rodeo Action (Cloncurry Recreation Grounds, King St)

7pm Official Opening

10pm – 1.00am Live Entertainment

Sunday, 5th August 8am – 12pm

Bush Poets, Campfire Breakfast, Community Markets
Outback Aussie Games – Come compete in the Farmer triathlon, Mower Races & Jackie Howe Hack!

Got to be in it to win it. Prizes & $$$ up for grabs.

Family friendly games and rules apply to some games.

Australiasian Team Roping Association Break-away Roping, Open Roping, Jnr Team Roping, Jnr Break-away Roping, #7 Roping, #9 Roping, #13 with #11 incentive3D Barrel Racing (1 round), All age groups Barrel Racing

Bush Poets Recital

Calling all poet’s, yarn spinners, joke tellers or get up and have a go folk!

You are invited to the Annual Curry Merry Muster Poet’s Breakfast on

SUNDAY 5TH AUGUST at the Cloncurry Show grounds.

This is a great finale’ to the big weekend where you can enjoy a hot breakfast and sit back and hear some great performances………….or get up and have a go yourself!

See you there!

2012 Merry Muster Brochure (click on the below)