As a rodeo clown Big Al not only entertains the audience but puts his body on the line to protect the riders.

His colourful career started in 1984 when Big Al, then aged 20, became the Australian rookie bull riding champion in professional rodeo.

He won the bull riding championships at Australia's biggest rodeo in Mt Isa in 1985 and competed at seven national finals throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Al was one of the top five professional bull riding champions in the country at the time, but after a few injuries, it was time for a career change.

Big Al became a rodeo clown, an entertainer and is now a great character at any rodeo.

He has many roles and duties and says a rodeo clown must be fully experienced with all arena activity and stock handling - both bulls and broncs.

Big Al has the ability to be able to jump in to save a cowboy from being run over by a bull.

"You never know what the bull is going to do - which way he'll turn. You could be seriously injured or even killed if you fall the wrong way, but you can't let fear stand in the way of something you love to do," he said.

See Big Al in action at the Wingham Summertime Rodeo on Saturday January 4, 2020 at Wingham Showground.