Jock Gray had been around horses and cattle since he was quite young, and was just shy of 14 when his interest in all things rodeo began.
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But after a literal lifetime of commitment to the Deniliquin Rodeo, the almost 85 year-old stalwart says he may take a step back after this year.
"This might be my last rodeo that I work at, but I’m sure I will still attend them,“ he said.
Jock’s favourite event is the saddle bronc - where cowboys have eight seconds to prove themselves on the back of a bucking horse.
“You have to have one hand free and not touch anything with that hand, and stay on for eight seconds.
“If there is more than one competitor who achieves this they are judged on 50 per cent horse performance and 50 per cent rider performance.”
Jock said this year’s Easter Saturday rodeo will be one to look forward to.
He anticipates great attendance due to missed or shortened programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After COVID people just want to get out and go somewhere.
“The public love to see a little bit of rough and tumble and a contest between the rider and the stock.
“Deni has always been a well supported rodeo.
“It’s good for the town and sponsorship is always well received the local businesses are very generous.”
Jock said his is grateful for his life of experience in rodeos and droving saying “I have met a lot of wonderful people and I have seen some beautiful places”.
Born in Deniliquin in 1938, Jock had little schooling and started droving at age 11 or 12.
He has worked around stock ever since.
In 1950 you were likely to find Jock in ‘Maxwell’s Paddock’, lending a hand to organise cattle for the upcoming rodeo.
His first rodeo ride was in 1952, right here in his home town.
In those old days, they had more competitors than today and the arenas were much bigger.
“Nowadays the rodeo is more professional, both with competitors and stock,” he said.
“Although the number of entries may be less, the action is fierce.
“The smaller arena gives a closer look at the competition, which in turn creates a better atmosphere among the crowd.”
When asked if he had a juicy recollection of his time on the rodeo circuit, a wry smile came across his face.
“Funny you should ask,” he said, as his smile widened.
“It was 1959 and I was at the Myrtleford Rodeo and the horse I was riding bolted.
“Before I knew it we had crashed through the fence.
“My horse took out a few bystanders and I finished up in a pram,” he recalled with cheeky laughter.
“There was no baby in the pram thank goodness.
“I can still see the mum holding her baby unsure of what she had just seen.
“I hopped out of the pram which was now a much more compressed version of itself and everyone was okay.
“That was possibly the last time I competed.”
While Jock had a lucky escape from injury that day, he was not always so lucky.
In the 1960s he had a horse fall on him while he was doing general work, which left him with a broken back.
Then in 2016 he flipped a quad bike which left him with multiple injuries, including the pelvis and hips.
He was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital then, once able, transferred to an Echuca rehab centre. He spent six months between the two before returning home.
Jock’s droving days took him to many parts of NSW and Queensland where he also attended many rodeos along the way.
“It wasn’t unusual to not see a roof for 12 months.
“You would just be camped out among the stars.
“But Deni has always been home base for me.”
When it comes to his role with the Deniliquin Rodeo Committee, Jock has always been happy to help wherever he was needed.
“I have done many jobs, but my recent role has been timing the rough stock, horses and bulls,” he said.
“It used to be ten seconds, but now the riders get eight seconds to try and stay on.
“I let the rider and pick up teams know when their time is up, so the pick up men can get the rider off the arena.
“I have made so many friendships through the rodeo.
“Some of the riders that compete today; I knew their grandparents,” he recalled fondly.
Jock recalls a gentleman named Norm Cakebread who used to bring a trailer load of horses from Melbourne for the riders to compete.
Contractors now supply the stock, with Garry McPhee the most used and famous locally, which Jock says has seen the evolution of a more professional set up.
The rodeos now fall under the umbrella of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which took over from what used to be the Australian Rough Riders Association.
Jock has noticed that services like online ticket sales have opened up the ability to attract bigger crowds to Deni’s rodeo.
“We’ve had people from South Australia and all over attend, as they could buy their tickets online,” he said.
Although he loves that technology has been a positive progression on the rodeo attendance, on a personal level Jock is still a little unsure of new technologies.
He’s still yet to master all the advantages of his mobile phone.
“I have had one of those things for years (mobile phone), and when I get service I only know how to answer it and make a call.
“I have never taken a photo; I wouldn’t know how,” he said with a carefree laugh.