Joined: 1988
Member number: 19
Club Positions:
Former Club President
Current committee member
My top suggestions:
1. Wear both ear plugs and ear muffs, the anticipation of noise will have a bigger negative impact on scores than the anticipation of recoil.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or simply walk up and say ‘hi’. Don’t be embarrassed if you can’t remember someone’s name, they probably can’t remember yours either.”
What inspired you to become a member?
Transferred from the Jungle Pistol Club when they lost their range and amalgamated with Blacktown PC.
What were your early experiences like? Any standout memories?
One member (Wayne Booth) mentored me and gave me a lot of 1:1 training.
What would you say has been your biggest role or contribution to the club?
Nothing more than what many other members have done over the years.
How has the club evolved since you joined and what changes stand out for you?
When I joined the Club membership was limited to 20. Over the last 37 years there has been significant changes to legislation and the way the sport is viewed by the ‘general public’. Every 4 years the sport gets an uptick in popularity due to the Olympics, and then every shooting ‘incident’, whether here or overseas, sees a drop in acceptance by the public, and a mad rush by legislators to implement more restrictions on genuine licensed shooters.
Over the last couple of years, the Club has become incorporated giving it significant benefits in its operational model and activities, and also adopted a very robust and disciplined approach to safety and compliance.
Are there any traditions or values you hope future members will preserve?
Focus on safety and a willingness to pitch in and help when required.
Who were some of the most memorable characters or mentors in the club’s history?
Far too many to name, but a standout would Barbara Davis (wife of Graham Davis) who joined around 1992 as one of the ‘pioneer’ female members of the Club. Barbara was just a fantastic person, a great Club member and a damn fine shot to boot, unfortunately ill health saw her stop shooting and resign from the Club.
Can you share a funny, touching, or unforgettable story from your time here?
I have two.
#1. At an RSL sporting showcase we had number of handguns on display, unfortunately a visiting Humphrey Bear was making quite a nuisance of himself, finally in exasperation I said to one of the Club members “give me a 45 out of the case and I will make the b*****d talk”. Humphrey made himself very scarce after that. At the following Christmas party I was presented with a Humphrey Bear head mounted on a plaque (much like you would mount a dear head). It still has pride of place in my ‘man cave’ to this day.
#2. Ken Kwong catching a ‘nanna nap’ on the firing line at Auburn.
What moment made you feel deeply connected to the club community?
The Hills Shire Council leasing the AP range to the Club, and the RSL providing additional funds to complete the extensions to turn it into a workable range.
What life lessons have you learned through your involvement here
Adversity brings strength, and the strength of the whole is greater than the sum of the individuals.
What advice would you give to younger members just starting out?
I have two suggestions:
1. Wear both ear plugs and ear muffs, the anticipation of noise will have a bigger negative impact on scores than the anticipation of recoil.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, or simply walk up and say ‘hi’. Don’t be embarrassed if you can’t remember someone’s name, they probably can’t remember yours either. My late father-in-law called always called me ‘George’, I found out very early on that he called all males (and he had quite a few employees) “George”, he told me that it was much simpler that way.
How would you describe the spirit of the club in one word and why?
“Diverse”. The Club has shooters from all ages, ‘walks of life’, shooting skills and shooting ‘aspirations’, yet somehow it meshes into a cohesive ‘unit’.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Over the years the Club has faced a number of ‘hurdles’ that could have easily seen the Club cease to exist, yet each one of these hurdles has been overcome and the Club has emerged stronger than before. Sure, the leadership/committee of the time must take a good portion of the credit for that, but has also been the membership who has adapted to change and provided the underpinning support the Club Committee that has allowed change to be implemented.