2020 Chiltern rodeo will go ahead for the first time without tireless founder Kelvin Duke
The community of Chiltern has rallied to help stage a show-stopping rodeo on March 8 to honour the memory of the event's tireless promoter Kelvin Duke.
The event at Chiltern racecourse is expected to receive a bumper 300 entries across a full program of action-packed riding, racing and roping, according to committee member Michael Phibbs.
Spectators will have the opportunity to see the fastest barrel racing horse in Australia when Tamlin Osborne saddles up in the ladies open barrel event while Wodonga's Jared McCain will be hoping to retain his leading status in the open bareback saddle bronc event.
And the heart-stopping thrills of the bull riding is expected to hit fever pitch when Australian record-breaker Brad Pierce braves some of the toughest animals in the business during the main event of the evening.
But amidst the competitors, clowns and crowds will be the knowledge this will be the town's first rodeo without its number one supporter.
The local town has come together and the community is right behind us ... we all want to make sure it keeps going (for Kelvin).
Michael Phibbs
Kelvin Duke was the face of rodeo in the North East; he was best known for founding and then tirelessly promoting the annual Chiltern event.
Mr Phibbs, a long-time friend of Kelvin's who helped him establish the rodeo, said the town had rallied behind this year's rodeo.
"The town has come together and the community is right behind us," Mr Phibbs said.
"We all want to make sure it keep going (for Kelvin)."
Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Chiltern rodeo and Mr Phibbs said Kelvin had been planning a bumper celebration.
"I love the sport, I love the town and I love seeing people enjoying rodeo," he told The Border Mail in 2017, after the rodeo arena was named in his honour.
A crowd of more than 250 people gathered at the racecourse to surprise the notoriously humble gentleman man with an honour befitting his years of service to the town and the sport.
Kelvin was also presented with life membership to the rodeo committee and an engraved Eddie Fisher Ridetuff trophy belt buckle.
- Gates open 2pm, main event starts 6pm: $25 adults, $15 children.