Tourism group rears up over Rockhampton bull statues
Updated
The head of Rockhampton's tourist industry has called for the central Queensland city's iconic bull statues rounded up off the streets and mustered to the city's showgrounds.
Capricorn Enterprise chief executive Mary Carroll says it is time for change.
"We really need to modernise and contemporise the 'beef capital of Australia' theme," she said.
One bull in particular is being targeted.
In prime position, it stands in a large roundabout on the main highway just south of the city, its rear end facing into the oncoming traffic.
"Most of our visitors drive to the region up the Bruce Highway," Ms Carroll said.
"They are greeted currently by a hide of a bull, which isn't a very welcoming statement."
Bull statues part of Rockhampton history
It is not the first time the issue has been debated but the statues are still standing.
Among those who have rallied to keep them is Chris Murphy, who is often called in to fix the bulls when they are robbed of their 'best assets'.
"University students have backed off a little bit," Mr Murphy said.
"But at one stage it was a trophy for them to take home a set of bulls parts."
He says the bulls are an important part of the city's history.
"It's part of Rocky, it's what Rocky was made on - the beef industry," he said.
The cattle industry donated the statues to the city in the 1980s.
The organisation in charge of running Australia's national beef expo every three years is also considering a change.
Beef Australia chief executive Denis Cox says while he does not believe the bulls should be herded into one area, there is room for more bovine-related art work.
"We'd love to see some significant art work," Mr Cox said.
"We already have some here in Rockhampton, but a few people have said some of the bull statues are a little bit tired - I think it's a healthy debate."
Mayor says Rockhampton image needs a facelift
Mayor Margaret Strelow says a new image should be considered.
"We are very much a beef capital - we're also a service centre, we're so many things," she said.
"I have been talking to a gentleman who came to me with a proposal for a much more modern assemblage actually of car parts he was trying to put together [as] the proposal.
"Maybe it's time for that - this one's really very much for the community to decide."
She says she tried to give the statues a facelift several years ago.
"Many years ago when I was a brand new councillor and coordinating the Grey Mardi Gras - if people can remember back that far - I asked permission to dress the bulls ... in honour of the occasion and got a very frosty reception," she said.
Topics: people, local-government, community-development, regional, rural-tourism, tourism, beef-cattle, rockhampton-4700
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