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Mt Isa - A long way from everywhere

I didn’t have a lot of expectation or preconceived imaginings about the Isa.

I had heard of the place – knew the John Williamson song, and it has recently been in the news as the towns Mayor made headlines, inviting all aesthetically challenged women to visit.  As the town is proportioned something like 8 men to every women. i.e the blokes aren’t picky. I believe the local ladies were not impressed.

So we roll into town yesterday morning – and were confronted by the mine. it dominates the skyline with a massive chimney and other stacks.
This isn’t just a mining town – its a mine with a little town attached.
This country community is dominated by the big food chains. The first maca’s kifka, and pizza hut combo we’ve seen since leaving cairns. I guess they are following the truck loads of cash that follow the truck loads of copper, lead, zinc and silver being hauled out of this place.

The mine and the town

We checked into one of the caravan parks. Nothing flash but very full with some very permanent guests – and decided to head to the pub on the corner for a drink. It is Friday afternoon and they look like they do cheap meals.
The pub was terrific.
We spent the first couple of hours talking to each other – watching the footy and having a bite to eat. The bubble was broken by an Aboriginal lady who sat with us. She was from mornington island and just loved the band. The band were so good we couldn’t really hear each other properly – but she was visiting her daughter and grandchildren for the school holidays.
As for the band – they were a classic covers set up of drum machine, guitar man and sexy singer.
He was into singing his dire straits – which left her to add some percussion and shake her bootie.
The mostly male crowd was warming up.
I guess the sight of a young female moving and shaking is enough to get their attention – but the songs she sang amped the sexual tension to a new high.

‘When i think about you I touch my self’

‘Some like it hot’

‘Hit me with your best shot’

‘How deep is your love’ and some classic Guns and Roses.

At some point the bloke started a rendition of ‘The boys lit up’ – and from the bar we hear a taunt – just let the girl sing… followed by much cheering and laughter.

We headed out to the beer garden for some peace and quiet (but finding none) and made fast friends with big Rus and his best mate James. They were lovely fellas asking us how we were findiing mt isa. I said we only arrived today.. So they let us know how they liked it. Mount Isa is the best place in the world.

Mt Isa Rodeo - 7,8,9 August 2009

It wasn’t that you could earn 170K with 5 days on and 2 off. But i don’t remember hearing much else,
apart from the Mt Isa Rodeo – which does seem to be the highlight of the year.
But recently the Rodeo had been dulled down due to lower alcohol beer and pre-mixes after 6pm.
Still it seems everyone was looking forward to it.

We spoke to Rus and James for the rest of the evening and were introduced to their many mates and invited to a bbq and james place tonight. What lovely country hospitality. Though the way were feeling today… I’m not sure we’ll make it.

We made it back to the van park with our wobbly boots, and were treated to a night of random drunks screaming on their way home. The bird chorus at dawn and then the horrid realisation of how much we drank and sore heads, luckily we had a little snuggle went back to bed and felt much betterer the second time round.