Bowen River cowgirl Emma Deicke claims Miss Rodeo Australia title

Living on a 25,000 acre cattle property in north Queensland, Emma Deicke grew up in the saddle and had always dreamed of becoming a rodeo queen.

The announcement of Miss Rodeo Australia was made at the Warwick Rodeo Heritage Centre where Ms Deicke competed against four other rodeo queens from across the country.

Unaware of her name being announced, Ms Deicke won the competition followed by runner-up Millmerran Queen Tamara Evans. 

“I didn’t realise I won until I heard my family and supporters cheering,” she said.

“It took a while for it all to sink in. Honestly I still don’t think it has quite sunk in yet, it is still all surreal. When I realised I had won it was a life-changing moment.”

With only one month preparation, Ms Deicke raised $6000 for her charity Burrumbuttock Hay Runners.

“Raising so much money just warms my heart. It was unbelievable how much my town got behind me and supported me,” she said.

“Hay runners is something very close to my heart. Off of a cattle property, we went through a very bad drought in 2015 to the point where my mother and I were taking seven big round bales out in the morning and another eight in the afternoon. 

“The hay runners really make a difference for farmers who are struggling. I wanted to help raise the profile of this charity because one day it could be my family who is in need of this service.”

Before attending the competition, Ms Deicke refused to book a return ticket home just in case she won.

“I wanted this so much and I wanted to put my heart and soul into this competition. It was a risky move but it paid off.  I knew if I won I would be staying in Warwick and then travelling to Wagga Wagga to attend my first rodeo as Miss Rodeo Australia.”

After attending Wagga Wagga rodeo on February 4, Ms Deicke will return home for a week to spend time with family before travelling to her next rodeo in Ballarat.