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Cowboy takes home a bride and a buckle after double win at Mount Isa rodeo

Cowboy takes home a bride and a buckle after double win at Mount Isa rodeo

When Canadian woman Kyla Dolen first met cowboy Fred Osman she admits she was instantly infatuated.

“I had moved out on a backpacking visa and had got a job helping out at his dad’s station,” she said.

“After working with him I was very twitterpated and in love with him.”

That was 12 years ago.

Now, she’s married her dream man.

A bride in a white dress with long brown hair walks alongside her groom wearing a blue shirt and cream vest holding a cowboy hat
Thousands were in attendance on the final day of the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere.(ABC North West Queensland: Larissa Waterson)

The couple tied the knot on Sunday, paying homage to Fred’s stockman roots as they said “I do” in front of a crowd on the red-dirt arena of the Mount Isa Rodeo — the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

In true cowboy fashion, just an hour after his vows, Mr Osman, 36, went on to win the bareback ride, defending his 2021 champion title.

“I don’t know what I was more nervous about, getting married or winning my fourth buckle here,” he said.

A bride and groom stand at a triangle timber alter on red dirt ground with a colorfully dressed celebrant holding a microphone.
The two said their vows on the arena just before Fred won the bareback competition.(Supplied: Mount Isa Rodeo)

A long road to rodeo romance

A year ago, Mr Osman popped the question to Ms Dolen while on a hike in Canada, right before he flew back to Australia.

“It was dodgy as. I didn’t have a ring or anything at the time so I just nicked one of her other little rings and did it with that,” he said.

“But I just wanted to make sure, because we were doing a lot of flying between countries, that she knew what my intentions were.”

A bride in a white dress with long brown hair holds her grooms hand in an outback landscape. He wears blue shirt and cream vest
The couple met 12 years ago and have been together for the past three years.(Supplied: Mount Isa Rodeo)

After COVID-19 lockdowns forced the couple into a 10-month long-distance engagement, Ms Dolen had had enough.

“My dream wedding was always to get married in Canada in the mountains,” she said.

“But after COVID and everything, I didn’t know when we were going to get back to Canada. And I’m lazy and I don’t like planning things. And I didn’t want to plan a wedding. So I was like, why don’t we just get married at Mount Isa?

“He was already going to be here riding in the rodeo and his family was coming to watch him ride so it was just so easy.

“And I wanted him to be excited about it as well and have a venue that he was excited about.”

A shot of the bouquet toss taken from the crowd.
Kyla tossed her bouquet into the crowd where one lucky single girl caught it.(ABC North West Qld: Larissa Waterson)

At the noon lunch break on Sunday, Ms Dolen walked onto the Mount Isa Rodeo arena in a sparkling white two-piece gown and cowgirl boots, her family watching via live stream from Canada.

A bride holds a bouquet and walks through metal gates onto red dirt. She's accompanied by a man in a suit and cowboy hat.
Kyla enters the Mount Isa Rodeo arena from the chutes in true cowgirl fashion.(ABC North West Qld: Larissa Waterson)

“It’s been awesome. When you really love someone, it’s really hard to just pick the small things you love about them — it’s just the whole entity of that person that you’re drawn to,” she said.

“He’s my best friend and I just can’t imagine doing life without him anymore.”

Three riders on horses in desert setting
Kyla and Fred (center and left) first met on his family’s station.(Supplied: Kyla Dolen)

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Categories
Sports

Renowned Mount Isa Rodeo launches inaugural Indigenous Championships

Renowned Mount Isa Rodeo launches inaugural Indigenous Championships

As skilled stockman Peter Jupiter prepares for a saddle bronc ride behind the chutes of Mount Isa’s Buchanan Park, it’s clear that this is not his first rodeo.

Renowned for being the biggest and richest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, the Mount Isa Rodeo drew a record 1,000 nominations.

But for Indigenous riders like Mr Jupiter, this year’s event was a first.

It marked the launch of the inaugural Mount Isa Rodeo Indigenous Championships on Thursday.

At least 85 cowboys and cowgirls from some of the most remote Aboriginal communities in the country converged on the iconic red-dirt arena to showcase their talents.

A group of Aboriginal rodeo riders wearing cowboy gear pose in front of a large, dusty arena
Indigenous riders from across Australia competed in the event.(ABC North West Qld: Larissa Waterson)

For Mr Jupiter, the event meant a lot more than bucking broncos and shiny buckles.

“It’s really important. It means a lot to us,” he said.

“With the first Indigenous rodeo, especially here at Mount Isa competing with the big boys, it means so much to us.

“This is probably going to light Mount Isa up.”

A cowboy rides a bucking bronco at a rodeo
The rodeo is an opportunity for talented Aboriginal stockmen and women.(Supplied: Mount Isa Mines Rodeo)

Aboriginal cowboys and cowgirls of all ages were recognized on the arena while performances by local artists celebrated culture.

A cowgirl wears a blue sash and holds up a buckle prize at a rodeo
Kalkadoon woman Maisy Hetherington won the breakaway roping championship.(Supplied: Mount Isa Mines Rodeo)

Indigenous rapper Baker Boy traveled from Birmingham, England, where he had performed at the closing of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to put on a show at the Indigenous Championships.

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Paving the way for future generations

Patrick Cooke, chief executive of the Mona Aboriginal Corporation, who coordinated the event, said the Indigenous rodeo fostered connection and representation in the community.

“From our perspective, this brings our community together,” he said.

“It’s not just a rodeo, it’s a celebration of our culture and our people.

An Indigenous man wearing brown and orange clothes and a cowboy hat dances in a rodeo arena
Deadly Dexter was the newest edition to the Mount Isa Rodeo’s protection team.(Supplied: Mount Isa Mines Rodeo)

“It’s fantastic. We’ve also got about six new Indigenous businesses that have run over the four days because of this rodeo.

“It showcases Indigenous stock men and women who were once the backbone of this industry.”

Little boy and older man, both Aboriginal and wearing cowboy clothes, hold up rodeo buckle prizes
Eight-year-old Rueben Craigie won the poddy ride while his dad, Jason, won the bareback title.(Supplied: Mount Isa Mines Rodeo)

Mr Cooke said the rodeo provided an avenue for young people to carve out careers in the industry.

“Mona runs on-country programs for disengaged youth and this Indigenous rodeo shows them a different industry and a different way of life that is available to them,” he said.

A group of young people and an older man, all wearing blue shirts and cowboy hats, stand in front of a hay bale
Patrick Cooke hopes the rodeo will create pathways for young people across the region.( ABC North West Qld: Larissa Waterson)

“This sort of event highlights that there are opportunities out there if they’re willing to take it and shows them the amazing things Indigenous people can do.

“These events are all about partnerships and continuing partnerships into a better future.”

A group of Indigenous rodeo riders and dancers, all wearing colorful shirts and traditional garments pose for a group photo
Locals have praised the event as an opportunity for better representation of Indigenous talent from across the region.(ABC North West Qld: Larissa Waterson)

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