Issue link: http://ssaansw.uberflip.com/i/362579
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 4 On Saturday 28 June, SSAA NSW Illawarra Branch celebrated its 50th year as a Branch, and their title 'Oldest Branch in Australia'. A celebratory dinner was held at the Hellenic Club in Wollongong, with many special guests in attendance including SSAA NSW representatives Diana Melham and Mark Godwin, Shooters and Fishers Party representatives Hon Robert Borsak and Hon Robert Brown, SSAA National President Geoff Jones, one of the founding fathers of SSAA Bill Shelton, as well as many Past Presidents and Committee members. It was a fantastic night, with over 100 members braving the icy wind to attend. The mood around the room was very positive and refl ected that it was just as much a celebration of shooting sports in general in the Illawarra as it was the Branch's 50th birthday. Many of the guests spent time mixing and catching up with old friends and making new ones. Many prizes were raffl ed off and auctioned with money raised being earmarked for a try shooting event in the Illawarra to be announced at a later date. Special thanks to both Simpson Sports, and A&R industrial for their kind donation of prizes on the night. SSAA NSW successfully bid on an air rifl e which was then donated back to the Branch for use in their Junior Development Program. Special thanks must also go to all past Committee members, volunteers, and ordinary members as we wouldn't have been able to celebrate this momentous occasion without the hard work and selfl ess dedication that many of you have given to our great sport. Let's hope we're around to celebrate another 50 years. Mark Banasiak President SSAA NSW Illawarra Branch SSAA Illawarra 50th Anniversary Dinner