Experience Berriwillock Rodeo

---

The Berriwillock Rodeo, located in the Mallee region of Victoria, Australia, has experienced a significant and triumphant revival after a 35-year absence. On March 1, 2025, the event made its return, featuring traditional rodeo competitions such as open bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, ladies' barrel racing, and junior events. The day also included a food court with food trucks, merchandise vendors, a kids' entertainment area with activities like a jumping castle and mechanical bull ride, and live music performances by James Blundell and Y U Ask? into the night. 

Organisers Jeremy Watson, Max Nunn and Paul Rohleder highlighted that the comeback of the Berriwillock Rodeo marked a new chapter, with dedicated community members and sponsors coming together to bring the event back to life. 

Historically, the region has a rich tradition of rodeo events and gymkhana's, with early competitions dating back to the mid 20th centuries. These events were integral to the cultural fabric of rural communities, showcasing skills such as bull riding, bronc riding, and steer wrestling. Over time, these competitions evolved into organized rodeos, reflecting the community's heritage and the development of rodeo as a sport. 

The revival of the Berriwillock Rodeo not only honors this legacy but also strengthens community bonds and supports local businesses. The success of the 2025 event has set a positive precedent for future rodeos in the region, ensuring that this vibrant aspect of Australian cultural heritage continues to thrive.

Out front, the beers are cold, the sun blazes and the crowd roars. Bulls buck, boots stomp, and dust dances in the glow of the Mallee sun. But behind the spectacle of the Berriwillock Rodeo lies a quieter, harder rhythm — one built on early mornings, late nights, and a community running on heart and handshake deals.

Weeks before the first rider climbs the chute, the town of Berriwillock transforms. Locals become labourer's, engineers, cooks, signwriters, and safety officers. The old Berriwillock football ground? It’s carefully measured and marked, fencing trailers rolled out, rabbit proof fence put into place, hay bales getting stacked and more sweat on the ground than rainfall. Volunteers, some old enough to remember the last rodeo decades ago, work side by side with teenagers building something none of them could do alone.

In the makeshift committee room — the old Berri footy shed — whiteboards list stock arrivals, volunteer rosters, and emergency contacts. Radios crackle with updates. Coffee mugs clink, beers are chugged. Someone’s lost the cable for the mechanical bull again. But somehow, every problem gets solved, often with a laugh and a workaround that no rulebook could ever suggest.

On rodeo day, the backstage hum turns electric. Contractors wrangle animals with calm confidence. Rodeo clowns crack quiet jokes to settle nerves. Riders stretch beside their utes, running reins through their fingers. Local kids sneak peeks through the holding pen fences, wide-eyed at the animals taller than tractors. Meanwhile, committee members juggle walkie-talkies, power outages, and lost toddlers — all while trying to enjoy a minute of the show they’ve spent 18 months planning.

As the main event rolls on outside, behind the scenes is where you see what the rodeo is really made of: old friends reunited with a handshake, strangers pitching in without being asked, and the unmistakable pride of a town that said “Let’s do it,” and meant it.

When the dust settles and the last note of country music fades into the Mallee night, the crowd might remember the wild rides — but those who built it will remember a very different play book. That’s the soul of the Berriwillock Rodeo. Not just a show, but a shared story, a town with a goal to make memories, and did they what!!!