IN their darkest of hours, a local family can at the very least take some comfort in knowing the legacy their young man has left behind.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Social media has been flooded as tributes flow in for Tamworth cowboy, Blake Hallam, who died in a car accident while driving between rodeos in Queensland last Thursday.
Professional Bullriding Australia posted a moving tribute on its Facebook page when the news broke.
“Today Australia mourns the loss of a great cowboy, Blake Hallam taken well before his time,” it read.
“With sympathy, heart held and heart felt on your loss, Dave, Dianne and Courtney you are in our thoughts and prayers always.”
The post has since been liked more than 1000 times, with hundreds of comments from across the country and world leaving words that speak volumes of his character as an all-round rider inside the arena and as a gentleman outside the arena.
Big Screens Australia posted video footage of Blake competing in his favoured events.
So fierce a competitor and so respected a man was Blake that the video has been viewed close to 200,000 times and shared almost 3000 times.
Blake was born into the world of rodeo, but his unwavering love for the sport kept him there. He won his first national junior steer title at the age of 10 and went on to win three more junior breakaway roping titles, as well as a junior all-round champion.
In a poignant tribute to Blake, his parents Dianne and David alongside his sister Courtney, led his horses around the stadium of The Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) on Sunday afternoon.
Professional bullriders from America have even honoured the rising star, known to have dominated the all-round cowboy, team roping heeler, rope & tie and steerwrestling events on the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association standings list.
Blake was also a highly-respected farrier, who married his passion for horses with a business he founded three years ago.
The family has thanked the outpouring of support from all corners of the country. Dianne told The Leader the tragedy has left them with one simple message.
“If we can take anything from it, it’s to appreciate and make the most of every day,” she said.
The funeral is expected to be so large that it will be held at AELEC – the place so many of Blake’s rodeo memories were forged.