SSAA NSW

SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Branch Profile In 1991 a group of local shooters came together to establish the SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Branch and work quickly commenced on finding a suitable site for a new rifle range in the region. Both Bill Shelton and Roy Smith attended the inaugural meeting of the new Branch alongside local shooters. In 1992 the Branch held competitions on the 50m pistol range in Moruya but with the help of SSAA NSW and approval from both the local council and NSW Forests work began on SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Range in 1993. With little money to spend, much of the work was carried out by volunteers who gave their time, materials and labor to establish the first 500m hard plate Centre Fire range in NSW. Members including (but certainly not limited to) John Rawson, John Woollams and Robert Dubbelaar were instrumental in creating one of the best Ranges anywhere in NSW and today, some twenty years later, the Range hosts a wide variety of shootings including Metallic Silhouette, Field Rifle, BR-30, Shotgun and Pistol. Despite the already fantastic facility, SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Branch are constantly searching for Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. ways to improve. This desire to continually offer local shooters more shooting options has recently seen the Branch establish a new 15mx16m indoor air rifle and pistol range perfect for Running Target that will open later this year. The Southcoast Fly Championships have been held at Batemans Bay since the mid-1990s and have continued to grow each year. In 2013 70 competitors attended the annual event. And for those locals looking for a more regular shoot, the Fox Shoot is held on the second Saturday of each month. The Fox Shoot is a club target competition that involves Centrefire rifles at 500m, 300m & 200m and Rimfire at 100m. Shooters can use basic factory rifles right up to full custom Benchrest rifles and the different distances appeal to everyone from beginners to serious varmint shooters and competitive Benchrest shooters. SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Range is open Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and Sunday from 9am. For more information contact SSAA NSW Batemans Bay Branch President Bryson Payne on 02 4471 3135 or by email to bandlpayne@gmail.com 12

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