Not just a bloke’s sport

OFTEN women are seen as the supporting spouse to their shooting husbands, someone who eventually picks up a gun themselves, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

A young teen who had been introduced to bows and arrows in the single digits, one of this writer’s first experiences was at Grantville Rifle Range – a left hander who had an eye for the target. 

Fast-forward many years and whilst my love of rifle target shooting and archery have not disappeared, clay targets have become the weekly choice.

For some a round in the ring or a session at the gym help relieve stress after a full week, but for others and many women whose stories the Sentinel-Times will introduce you to in our two-part editorial, have found peace, freedom and respect for a sport that comes with a certain stigma.

Melanie Durkin, Wonthaggi Clay Target Club (WCTC)

Growing up on a farm, Melanie picked up her first gun at a young age.

“A young teen I remember picking up a .22 – it was my grandfather and great uncle’s gun,” Mel said.

“I was taught how to use firearms from a young age and taught to respect firearms from a young age.

“It’s a good stress relief – you channel your thoughts and focus.

“It’s great when you hit them – the excitement!”

Controlling your breath and beating heart, focusing one hundred per cent, shooters must let the stresses of the day, week or even year dissipate, and have respect for the firearm in their hand.

Watch any Winter Olympian Biathlete and the control becomes incredibly pronounced; from hundreds of miles away you feel their breath work and concentration.

“It’s fun, but the control, discipline and safety of the sport is paramount and you’re safety conscious. 

Preparation for most shooters is similar, but each have their own style.

“When you lift a gun for the first time, and it feels right.”

“I tune out. I tend not to look at anyone else and focus on myself. Breathe in, calm the nerves, raise the firearm, pull and hopefully hit the target.

“Calm and repeat.

“Coming from rifles I was frightened of shotguns, but after Pete’s accident I gave it a go. Once you get the first and second hits with the target it becomes addictive.

“With the shotgun you’ve got the kick, but with the adrenaline that fades out – it’s just addictive.”

And whilst most shooting (excluding team events) is individual, calling it an individual’s sport couldn’t be further from the truth.

“The camaraderie, the friendships that have been gained, it’s great. 

“It’s an incredibly safe environment to get out and enjoy the sport, despite what people often think.

“When younger people get involved and have respect for firearms it normalises it and you don’t get scared, because ultimately, it’s not the firearm that’s the weapon, it’s the individual behind it that makes it dangerous.

“If individuals who were genuinely afraid and scared of the idea of being around firearms came out to a club and saw how things happen – it would make a big difference to how they are viewed.”

Aside from the firearms legislation to obtain your licence, many clubs also have their own safety demonstration that must be undertaken before they will allow you to try.

“It’s a great environment – safety, maintenance, everything about owning a firearm, respecting your fellow shooters – it’s a very disciplined process.

“You’ve got the extremes of ages and abilities, all shooting together in the same competition standing next to each other; it caters for a wide range of abilities and skills.”

Across the district there are an array of females from all backgrounds and skills who have given the discipline a go.

“It’s fun and addictive, and can be expensive,” Mel laughed.

“There’s no discrimination – you’re welcomed whoever you are – it’s inclusive.

“It’s not like any other sports – it has its merits and you’d be pleasantly surprised by what the sport has to offer. Get out there and have a look.

“Once upon a time I was terrified of shotguns, now it’s my choice of firearm.”

Wonthaggi Clay Target Club are available for hens/bucks, organisation and company team building days out and community group events.

Anyone who is interested or has remotely considered the sport are urged to come and have a go on Thursdays from 5pm.

Kay Eland, Fitzroy Caulfield Grantville Rifle Club (FCGRC)

THIRTY-THREE kilometres from WCTC is the home of Fitzroy Caulfield Grantville Rifle Club and long-time member Kay Eland.

“My husband (John) has been at it since he was 16/17,” Kay said.

“We got married and every Saturday he’d go off shooting and I’d say to him, ‘I should really have a go at that one day.’

“Once the kids were off our hands, he said to me, ‘come on, come and have a go’. He talked me into it, and I loved it.

“That was around 1986. I remember saying to someone, I learned to swim when I was 40 and I learned to shoot when I was 40.”

Getting out of the house, shooting is a mind sport.

“You’ve got to concentrate the whole time. If you lose concentration, it’s not very good.

“All the people I’ve met have been friendly and the camaraderie – everyone wants to help.

“I enjoy getting out in the fresh air, meeting people and having a go!”

Initially shooting in Williamstown, Kay and John moved to Grantville when the government sold the range.

“It’s fun. If you go to competitions, you can travel anywhere. I’ve been to Tassie, Sydney, Brisbane, and all-around Victoria; you meet some really nice people.

“I was in the mixed Victorian State Team in Tassie. We won the match we wanted to win, and I shot really well – I top scored.

“It’s good there’s no segregation between males and females we all shoot off against each other.

“John and I go off and do competitions at different ranges. There’s a great weekend at Wangaratta – five days, it’s just brilliant.”

Kay also counts success at the Queen’s Prize amongst her awards.

“You have your really good days and then you have your really rotten days,” Kay laughed.

“Put your earplugs in, your earmuffs on and you lie on the ground. You look through the scope and line up on your target. It’s just concentration.

“Once you’ve put the bullets in, it’s aiming at the centre of that targets and squeezing a good shot away, hopefully.”

“If someone sees you doing something wrong, they’ll always come along and say, ‘Hey, you didn’t do whatever or you should have done whatever’; it’s a good sport.”

And whilst taking care of the firearms may be John’s area of interest in his shed, Kay can certainly hold her own at 76 years young.

“Our grandson (12) was coming down with us for a while and a few years ago we had a chap that was shooting with us, and he turned 100 – he absolutely lived for it.

“Big, small, young, old – anyone can do it.

“Safety is one of the things that more or less gets hammered into your right from the start.

“Always have the gun pointing down the range, and you don’t get up unless it’s unloaded.

“After each shoot, everyone sits around and has a cuppa and chat.”

Having tried shotgun during a special event with the club, rifle is Kay’s discipline of choice, though she hasn’t ruled out pistols completely.

Anyone looking to give rifle shooting a go is welcome to pop down to Fitzroy Caulfield Grantville Rifle Club on Bass Highway, Saturday’s from 10am.

“Anyone is welcome to come in, have a chat and potentially have a go.”