The beloved former president, who passed away in 2019, will be remembered in the Kelvin Duke Memorial Bareback Bronc event this Sunday, March 7, while the open bull ride is named after another former president, Steve Atkins.

Current president Michael Phibbs jokes he's already planning his memorial buckle; he's probably earned it given the hoops he's had to jump through to get a COVID-safe event over the line.

But with the red tape sorted - thanks to the help of Benambra MP Bill Tilley - it will be time to open the chute on some rodeo action.

Mr Tilley, who is a "huge fan" of the Chiltern rodeo, said like so many organisations in the North East, the event was at real risk of being cancelled because of the bureaucracy that seems to be part and parcel of COVID safety plans.

"Some phone calls to the right places and the hard work of my Benambra team got them over the line - a gentle push is sometimes helpful and that's what we are here to do," he said.

Gates to the recreation reserve open at 2.30pm with the main event from 6pm; there's bull riding, saddle bronc, team roping, steer roping and wrestling, and barrel race events. Tickets: $30 adult, $65 family, $20 children (U-16), seniors $15.