Issue link: http://ssaansw.uberflip.com/i/209433
After another month in Penrith, I was able to dispense with the back brace and commenced hobbling. My other wounds were healing and eventually I was allowed home with the support of the district nurses and my daughter dropping in to keep an eye on me. I returned to work part time in mid December, but have struggled with a functionally useless right hand. I have been cleared to drive and life slowly returned to what passes for normality. But what of shooting? Thankfully I was naturally left handed, and after a lifetime of shooting right handed rifles, had ordered a Tikka .308 in left hand. It turned up at Safari Firearms whilst I was in intensive care. Eventually a mate took me down and we picked it up, another mate took me to Silverdale and we had a ball. Losing so much muscle, and being unable to support the rifle in my left hand were a pain, but I started strapping aerobic weights onto my arms and doing some exercises to see what we could achieve. have flashbacks, but that did not occur. My friends even made me a cake to celebrate: After 2 years my fitness is slowly being restored. I walk, shoot and even talk to groups about the risk of working alone. I now carry a PLB when out in the bush. I then ordered a Tikka 22/250 in left hand and even started reloading again. It is a sobering thing to be in hospital and rehabilitation. There are people there who are far worse than I was, but I was one of the lucky ones. In 2012 I returned to the scene. Some warned I would Rod Masters (The Animal) Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 17