A show with a cause

Ryan Cant is thrown from the bull. 176816 Pictures: ROB CAREW

By Bonny Burrows

 A riderless horse walked out onto the arena at the third annual Bunyip Rodeo in tribute to horse lover and Northern Territory teen Dolly Everett.
Participants and spectators also marked a minutes silence in memory of the 14-year-old who took her own life earlier this month after alleged bullying.
While the rodeo’s committee didn’t know Dolly personally, as a member of the horsing community, they felt it fitting to commemorate her life.
“Bullying is a huge issue. The committee all agreed it was something we wanted to bring to the forefront,” committee member Tracie Wright said.
“The rodeo committee as a whole is very passionate about it (ending bullying).”
Dolly’s tribute was a small “super sad” moment in an otherwise “fabulous” event.
“The day was fabulous, it went off really well,” Ms Wright said.
“The weather was good, the crowd was good.”
Along with the competition which “memorised” its spectators, 20 January’s event included children’s rides face painting and clowns handing out lollies in the arena.
“That was a lot of fun. The kids got to get in there and get very dust and dirty. They had an absolute ball,” Ms Wright said.
“It was a great family day out.”