Coronavirus-safe outback events are now being planned after a cattle station in north-west Queensland last weekend hosted the first campdraft and rodeo in the state since restrictions came into place earlier this year.
More than 400 people descended on Yelvertoft Station, about 100 kilometres west of Mount Isa, for three days of horse sports and a long-awaited catch up with others in the area.
Australian Campdraft Association president Hugh Phillip said a number of other committees were watching to see if Yelvertoft was a success before committing to their own events.
"At the end of the day, no-one really knows how long this COVID stuff is going to go on in our communities and we've got to learn to deal with it," Mr Phillip said.
"We're still encouraging those committees to work with their local police and also the health inspectors."
Keeping communities connected
With many cattle stations and remote communities going into a strict lockdown earlier this year, social catch-ups have been few and far between.
Mr Phillip said the national campdraft competition had been cancelled and the socially distanced events were more aimed at keeping communities connected.
"It's really important whatever the event is, I've talked to people in these rural areas who have even wanted to have a golf tournament," he said.
"They're wanting to catch up and talk to people."
Yelvertoft owner and campdraft president Marcus Curr said most people who were dedicated to campdrafting as a sport had written off 2020.
"For the keen campdrafters, a lot of the horses have been bushed for the year," Mr Curr said.
"There's a lot of blokes in this country who have been working here for the year, been to nothing, and they're keen for a weekend out."
