We also know that most of them would have to be in their 80s or 90s — even 100s — because that first rodeo was staged at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve in 1946. Yes, that’s 80 years ago.
It was the one and only time the rodeo was held at the recreation reserve, with the Kyabram Showgrounds on Allan St its home ever since.
Well, we have come up with someone who was at that inaugural rodeo and is still around today.
Ken Lucas saw our story on the approaching 80th Kyabram Rodeo in these columns two weeks ago and contacted the Free Press to reminisce and reflect on his memories of that distant historic day.
Ken was also able to distinguish all the people in the photo of the original Kyabram rodeo committee, which ran with the article. He even named one of the pick-up riders in the rear of the photo, who had not been identified.
‘‘The pick-up riders for that first rodeo all came from Tumbarumba and did the job for many years after that,’’ Ken said.
Living near Rochester at the time, Ken, now 88 and living in Shepparton, remembers a debate among senior members of his family about what method of transport they would use to get the family to Kyabram for that first rodeo.
Apart from Ken, other family members who attended that historic day were his parents, his brother Geoff and his uncle Wilfred, a brother of his father, Vern.
‘‘Horse and gig was mentioned in our plans to get there but we all ended up crowding into an old 1924 Chevrolet Ford sedan and made the trip there and back safely but slowly,’’ Ken said.
He can also remember when arriving at the rodeo, the family car was parked on land adjoining the recreation reserve that belonged to the Dawes family, who had a mansion in that area. A parking spot cost one shilling.
Ken could name where the shute was on the reserve and the area where the pick-up team was domiciled.
One memory that really stuck out and still does to this day was his uncle Wilfred unceremoniously crushing a umbrella a lady in front of them had rudely put up and that was obstructing their view.
Ken said he attended about another 20 rodeos after the first one.
He later moved to farm on Graham Rd between Kyabram and Tongala before buying a fruit block on Broken Creek at Nathalia. After that, he settled on a soldier settlement block just north of Nathalia, where he spent the rest of his working life.
Liquid gold
We like Kylie’s sense of humour.
As the fuel prices spiralled to ridiculous heights last week, Kylie generously offered a deal on Facebook.
She was willing to part with 20 litres of precious fuel in exchange for a new house with the proviso it had a swimming pool.
Don’t think Kylie was overwhelmed with people jumping at the deal, but it was the thought rather than outcome that arguably shone out in such dire circumstances.
Good stuff, Kylie!
Dry spell
After the deluge a couple weeks ago, there had been no rain to Monday this week.
Between February 25 and March 4, Kyabram received 168mm of rain, including 64.2mm on March 2.
Up to then, just 6.6mm of rain had been recorded for 2026 — all that falling in February, with no January rain.
Pumped up pumpkin
The winning entry in the annual competition for the heaviest pumpkin at the recent Deniliquin Show tipped the scales at 70kg.
But when you start talking world records for pumpkin weight, it was well short of the world record of 1200kg, grown in the UK.
Pub’s uncertain future
Another country pub bites the dust.
Or has it?
The Blighty Hotel between Deniliquin and Tocumwal is closing its doors this Friday.
How long for? That’s the 64-dollar question, because the current owners are hopeful of someone buying it.
The pub has been a loyal servant of the Blighty district for over 80 years. The licence was once held by the Morago Hotel, which was operated by the Davie family.
When the licensing inspector ruled the Morago Hotel had deteriorated beyond repair in 1940, the licence was transferred to the Blighty Hotel.
Square dinkum
G’day.
I took my suit to the dry cleaners, who wanted to charge me $45 to clean it.
Instead, I gave my suit to the charity shop next door. They cleaned and pressed it, then put it in the window — and I bought it back for $12.50.
Look out for more of my money-saving tips.
Hooroo!
15°C