Latest news with #Roebourne
ABC News
11-08-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
'Family friendly' inaugural Roebourne Rodeo unites Pilbara's remote community
A sellout crowd of more than 3,000 has sparked hopes the new Roebourne Rodeo will be a permanent fixture in the Pilbara town's calendar. The event, a collaboration between traditional owner and Karlayura Group founder Brian Tucker and local rodeo champion Tui Magner, drew a bumper crowd to the town, 1,560 kilometres north of Perth, over the weekend. It was the culmination of a decades-long dream for Mr Tucker, a highly respected traditional owner on Banyjima and Nyiyaparli country. "I wanted to do this a long time ago," he said. The remote town has a complex history of high crime rates and social dysfunction, something acknowledged by Mr Tucker in his opening address. "[This rodeo is] about putting back into the community and making people know there's a way you can do things and help each other, especially a town like Roebourne." Students from Roebourne District High School were given a behind-the-scenes look at rodeo in the lead-up to the event. It underpins the rodeo's ethos of community and horsemanship. "I'm really excited today and watching every family coming in," Mr Tucker added. Rodeo co-founder and champion cowgirl Tui Magner said community, connection and family were an important part of the event. "It's been a beautiful journey just setting up the club and trying to run a community friendly event," she said. "Rodeos are really popular in WA alone. They have a really, really strong following. In addition to organising the event, Ms Magner competed, taking out the title for barrel racing. Bull riding runs in the blood for father-son duo Damon and Tyrell Metcalf. The family rivalry was on full show with both men competing in the open bull riding. Damon, who returned to riding after three years, placed third. "I just made a comeback because I was trying to coach Ty how to ride," Damon said. "So, [I] entered me up, and, yeah, I had to show him, he told me; so I showed him." They were so keen, they left Roebourne that night to do it all over again the next day at the Derby Rodeo — a 10-hour drive away. Karlayura is more than just the name of Brian Tucker's company. "It means firefly," Mr Tucker said. "It comes up from my country [in] Karijini National Park." Mr Tucker says Karlayura is about bringing people together. "As a traditional person who makes things happen, it's a purpose for all nations to be part of. "My passionate thing is about the rodeo itself, that everybody enjoys — I'm talking about [people of] every colour."
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
North West Coastal Highway's 'notorious' Roebourne to Karratha section claims another two lives
Police, road safety advocates and grieving family members are calling for a "notorious" stretch of highway in Western Australia's north-west to be upgraded. Two people were killed in a head-on collision outside Roebourne, 1,500 kilometres north-east of Perth, last Friday. The crash occurred on the North West Coastal Highway which links Geraldton to Port Hedland and is frequently used by tourists, truck drivers and mining companies. It comes two months after a pair of teenagers, 17 and 16, died in a crash while riding a motorbike on the same route. Karratha Police Senior Sergeant Uwais Cuff said the section between Roebourne and Karratha was particularly dangerous. "You get a lot of shift workers knocking off duty and that road becomes particular busy." Senior Sergeant Cuff said works to widen the road and turn it into a double-carriageway had improved safety in recent years. But road trains and seasonal influxes of grey nomad caravanners remained challenging. "We're throwing everything at it," he said. "[Officers] will be out in force with their radars monitoring speed and fatigue, any drug and alcohol driving as well." The 29-year-old driver of a Toyota Prado, Koda Tahi Tahi, and a 21-year-old man died at the scene of last Friday's crash. Police said they were continuing to investigate the incident. Four other female passengers in the Prado were injured, with a 19 and 24-year-old flown to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition. The daughters and niece of journalist and Roebourne resident Tangiora Hinaki were involved in the crash. The driver of the Prado was Ms Hinaki's niece and her daughter, Manawa, was a passenger. She is in hospital in a stable condition and is expected to recover from her injuries. Ms Hinaki described her niece as a "beautiful, community-driven, joyous young woman" who had been involved with the local school and church. She said her niece's death had a profound impact on the local community, her family and friends across Australia and overseas. "I feel grateful for my three daughters that are still here with us Earth-side, but it's still very bittersweet because our beloved Koda is not here with us," she said. "You want your children to outlive you." More than five roadside tributes are visible along the 30 kilometre stretch of the North West Coastal Highway between Karratha and Roebourne. The latest crash brings the number of road fatalities between Karratha and Roebourne to four in 2025 so far, compared with two for the entire of 2024. Truck driver Heather Jones told ABC Pilbara the stretch was "very notorious" amongst transport workers. Ms Jones, who sits on a national road safety committee, said driver education needed to be at the forefront of investment. "We don't train well in cars, motorbikes or trucks, so we need to lift the driver training," she said. "Yes, there's a cost to it in the beginning. But if we invested in the beginning we wouldn't have all the consequences and the trauma that that brings upon families. In a statement, WA Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said the commission was "saddened" to hear of the double fatality. Mr Warner said that since 2020 the WA government had invested nearly $1.3 billion towards targeted road safety programs including "record investments on upgrading and delivering new road infrastructure". The funding also included upgrades to more than 9,000km of regional roads. Main Roads WA has been contacted for comment.
