Putting yourself in the path of a charging bull might not be your idea of fun, but it is a dream job for 25 year-old local Luke Rosetta.
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Luke is a bull fighter, and a champion one at that.
He puts his life on the line protecting bull riders competing at rodeos.
He was in the arena at Deniliquin on Easter Saturday, and will also be in the firing line when the rodeo circuit arrives in Balranald for the Homebush Rodeo this weekend.
But he also competes, and was among those vying for a team roping win at Deniliquin at Easter.
“I’m a third generation cowboy,” Luke said proudly.
“I do it ‘cause I love it.”
Luke’s first rodeo experience was as a baby, following his dad Lindsay Rosetta around the rodeo circuit.
Lindsay is a “pick-up man” and has been doing the job he loves for the last 35 years, and was a team roping competitor at Deniliquin earlier this month.
It was inevitable that his son would also catch the rodeo bug.
“Everybody wanted me to do what dad did,” a defiant Luke said.
“They were shoes too big to fill, I needed to make my own name.”
Lindsay is happy sharing his love of all things rodeo with his son.
“I’m proud of him, he’s done it hard and he’s done it well,” he said.
“I love that we travel and stop in towns and meet new people.
When asked if he gets nervous when Luke competes with his job, his answer was straight.
“When you play with bulls, that’s what happens,” he said with a gruff, well intended giggle.
Bull fighting is a scary sport that has turned what was considered a necessity into one of the craziest events at the rodeo.
In the dusty arena while the crowd’s attention is focused on the bull and rider, bull fighters are gearing up to protect the rider at all costs.
The bull has revenge in his sights and the bull fighter makes sure he is the main target.
With some bulls weighing over 1000kg, the window for things to go sideways is extremely high.
Yet this is what Luke lives for.
“I have had heaps of injuries ranging from jarred fingers, scars from getting hit with the bull’s horns, and worse when attempting to set a rider’s arms free,” Luke said.
“Positioning and timing are key.”
Luke is a supplier working for the contractors, so he often sees the same stock and riders.
“There is a whole team and community around the rodeo,” Luke said.
“We all look out for each other and catch up.”
When he is not following the rodeo trail bull fighting, Luke heads to Birdsville, Queensland for seasonal work in the off-season.
Across a vast 16,500 acres he enjoys the varying landscapes and the trials and tribulations of the job.
When asked if it was hard to find the seasonal work Luke said “If you can’t get a job here, you’re doing something wrong.”
Come November, the best in pro rode head his was for the APRA National Finals Rodeo.
Gracemere, Rockhampton at the Australian Rodeo Heritage Centre is the backdrop for the prestigious event.
The top 15 competitors in eight events, over four rounds, compete over three days.
The top 15 qualifiers for the bull ride at the Nationals Finals Rodeo vote in the bull fighting champion.
“In 2022 I was crowned bull fighter champion of the year,” a very proud Luke said.
“Australia’s top riders vote for you as your peers, you’re the best bull fighter around.”
Luke attends bull fighting clinics to further his skills and experience, and he has now set his sights on America next.
“I’m going to holiday and attend some bull fighting schools,” he said.
“In America the prize pools are bigger; that’s where the dollars are and the best of the best are competing.”
When asked when he will return, Luke shrugged his shoulders and, with a cheeky grin and, calmly said “when the money runs out.”