Over a few beers in the pub, Jim Okenny, Les Brown, and Graeme Bell were the instigators of the first Rodeo in Kununurra in 1971. That meeting was recorded on the 4/12/1971. Things happened quickly as it was decided to have a Rodeo on the 18/12/1971 at Mick Kimpton dry block. It was a quiet affair, with Ivanhoe supplying the cattle and some horses and a couple of surrounding stations bringing buck jumpers. Since the affair was organised in a short period of time, Ivanhoe station also provided the portable yards. Only a small crowd attended the event due to the time of the year.

By the time the second rodeo took place on August 20, 1972, at the Quarantine Yards, a committee had been formed. The committee decided to name the rodeo the “Kununurra Bushman’s Carnival and it was to take place in the week of festivities called the Mardi Gras where races, pony club, cotton festival and the show were celebrated over 5 days. Having the rodeo organised within this historical week was an achievement for the committee. A big crowd gathered for this event. Cambell Copeland from Newry station built the chutes for the rodeo, and they still stand to date. The loading ramp was used as the commentator stand, and portable yards was brought in from several stations – Newry, Carlton Hill, Ivanhoe, Rosewood and Argyle. Jim Okenny was the president and some of the members were Graeme Bell, Gilbert Pollock, Trevor Cristenson, Les Brown and Peter Harpham.

The third and fourth rodeos, in 1973 and 1974, respectively, took place at the Quarantine Yards during the week of Mardi Gras. The committee planned to approach the race club in 1975  to build a permanent yard to secure the rodeo and construction commenced in 1976. Jim Roe built the loading ramp, and backyards, but portable yards still had to be sourced from the station for the arena. As the club’s financial capacity became stable, parts of the yard were built until it was fully finished, which was achieved in 1977.

By 1977, the cotton festival had folded, and the show was moved into the town of Kununurra, resulting in only the races and the rodeo taking place in the same week. From then on, the rodeo was a major and popular event due to the well organised and better stock. This was the start of something that’s grown from a couple of mates having a beer at the local pub to now a major event in the Kimberley Moon Festival as well as the Annual Campdraft and Rodeo.

14th June 2017, the club changed its name and is still known to this day as Kununurra Campdraft and Rodeo Association Incorporated.

Our Association is proud to have stood the test of time and to still be able to bring this sport to our local and wider community across the top end of Western Australia and the Northern Territory.