One of the best bull riders in the country is making himself at home in the south-west.
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Central Queensland cowboy Kaleb Comollatti is among the top-10 riders in the top division on the Rodeo Services Australia circuit
RSA rodeos are held all over Australia and the Colac Rodeo is on Saturday night.
Comollatti is after another open division victory after placing first at the Goroke Rodeo last weekend.
He also placed third at the Branxholme Rodeo three weeks ago.
"I'm feeling very confident after the past few weeks," he said.
While he's brimming with confidence, he knows it's important to remain humble.
"We've got a big crowd of bull riders this weekend, there's 17 of us," he said.
"So it should be a bit of a ride-off."
Comollatti is aiming to stay on his bull on Saturday after being bucked off both his bulls at Colac two years ago.
He'll have to the last the "eight seconds of adrenaline rush".
The long-time rider was able to hold on during his successes at Goroke and Branxholme.
Comollatti, a proud Indigenous man, hails from Duaringa and the Woorabinda Aboriginal community.
Comollatti moved to Warrnambool in November as his fiancée CaseyLee is from the south-west.
"It's a lot different to home, it's a lot cooler, the weather is a lot different, you get the four seasons in one day," he said. "I like it."
The cowboy was thrilled to get into the top 10 of the RSA rankings for the first time ever in the past fortnight.
"It's good to be in the top 10 because then you know you're mixing it with the good bull riders," he said.
The experienced bull rider is aiming to reach the RSA finals later this year. He also plans to add to the two Australian Professional Rodeo Association shows he's already competed in this year.
Comollatti is one of the few Indigenous cowboys that ride on the professional circuit and knows he has an important role.
"It means a lot because, as being one of a few, you can show the rest of the kids that want to be cowboys that if they take the opportunity and proceed with it, they can make it in the rodeo life," he said.
"It's just a lot of them have financial difficulties, I would say, whereas some of us don't.
"I encourage it a lot up home, I've run a few rodeos up home in Woorabinda.
"I ran about 300 kids through the two or three days on steers and potty rides and they all wanted to do it."
Comollatti, who has been bull riding since he was 12 years old, said his dad got him into the sport.
"He was riding since he was a six-year-old," he said.
"Dad used to take me around to the all potty riding events."
The rider with 19 years experience has his own children - Rakalem, Jhrayne and Kiylahn - coming up through the mini-bull riding series.
Comollatti said he was grateful to the Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative for its support since he arrived in Warrnambool.
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