Joined: 1992
Member number: 60
Club Positions Held:
Current Vice-Captain,
Committee Member, Captain,
My top suggestions:
It all starts in the feet. If you got your feet wrong, you’ll shoot wrong.
What inspired you to become a member and what were your early experiences like?
I don’t know, 1992 was a long time ago!
Me, Robert (Napthali), Graham Davis, and Kenny (Ken) Kwong all joined up together on the same day. Then we shot there until they closed it down and the university took over. Then we moved to under the bowling club at Castle Hill, in the basement area. We put everything in and it was fantastic until they had a new president who thought it would make a good area for his daughter’s aftercare group, so we got kicked out. But the fun part was, about 9 months later, they got kicked out and now it’s still there but they’re gonna knock it down.
What is or was your favourite caliber and shooting event?
9mm Tanfoglio and a .38 revolver. I spent $2500 on a Tanfoglio to get it to fit my hand and to shoot nicely. Had it modified, completely modified, it’s still in the club. Both me and Paul had the exact same guns. They were very fast and both my guns had red dots. We both liked the Tanfoglio for speed. Our .38 revolvers got tangled up in the buyback and even the officers told us we were crazy, mad, and stupid for that.
What would you say has been your biggest role or contribution to the club?
Commitment. Building the club (literally, the air pistol club house was overseen by Rob, Paul and a number of members). And we had arguments about doing things, but that’s because I’ve got a building background. Being on the committee. The only thing I regret is that we haven’t put the toilet in. We’ve been thinking about doing that for years but never got around.
How has the club evolved?
There’s more people now. I miss having the Christmas Party at the Club premises. Kenny used to bring his wife. Everyone had fun, we had door prizes.
What advice would you give to younger members just starting out?
Well, I start off by showing them the stance. So I stop them straight away. The first thing I show a person is the feet. It all starts in the feet. If you got your feet wrong, you’ll shoot wrong. Next was finger on the trigger. That should have been my number one and then stance. And then how to hold it (the gun). Then I put a stroke under the target to show them how to aim, not to aim in the middle, but under it.
How would you describe the spirit of the club in one word?
Comaraderie.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
The length of time we’ve been together we’ve had a lot of people gone but only because they’ve died.You know, they haven’t left because they don’t like it, the only reason i’m going is if I die and Rob’s (Napthali) probably the same. We’re here till the end.