SSAA NSW

Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. 3 From Diana's Desk Juniors are the future of our sport… A cliché we hear often within our association, with very good reason. It's important that we, as an organisation and individual members, take every chance to maximise the opportunity for younger generations to participate in our safe, fun and unique sport. SSAA NSW, our Branches, Affiliate Clubs and individual members can, and do, play an important part in promoting, encouraging and facilitating the participation of juniors at all levels, and also in offering the vast variety of activities available within the shooting sports. SSAA NSW has over the years built up a variety of programs and support opportunities to encourage the participation of juniors in our sport and to also assist our Branches with providing activities at the local level. These include: • Subsidies for juniors attending SSAA NSW State Titles and SSAA National Championships, • Subsidies for Branches to establish a local Junior Development Program which includes funding for the purchase of firearms to be used for their JDP, • Development, in partnership with St Marys Indoor Shooting Centre, of the SSAA NSW Junior Development Program which can be used as a template for the development of Branch and Affiliate Club programs, and • Sponsorship of SSAA junior members, teams and initiatives at the Branch level including the purchase or donation of rifles. Over the years we've featured articles on numerous junior shooters, teams as well as Branch events and programs. This month, we've included a story on the inspirational Duval High School Rifle Team. Introduction of a junior discipline… Our latest initiative is the introduction of a Junior Discipline to our NSW discipline structure which, as with all of our disciplines, will be coordinated by a Chairman and Alternate Chairman and provided with support and assistance through the SSAA NSW Office. This latest initiative will enable specific focus to be placed on the delivery of state-wide programs and activities that provide a variety of opportunities for young shooters to try different disciplines, attend training camps and participate in various competitions. The SSAA NSW Board and the State Discipline Chairmen (SDC) are extremely supportive of this move. Discussions at the recent SDC meeting explored the various different options for multi-discipline camps and activities to enable juniors to experience as many different disciplines as possible. SSAA National Junior Challenge… SSAA NSW has also volunteered to host the SSAA National Junior Challenge in 2016. This event is held each year in the first week of July and enables juniors from across Australia to come together to participate in rimfire Rifle Silhouette, 3P and Field Rifle events. The three core events are contested in two age groups; under 15 years, and 15 years and under 18 years. This year's Challenge will be held in Tasmania and notice of the event and nomination form can be found on the SSAA National website here. Any junior member of a SSAA NSW Branch is entitled to claim the Junior Subsidy for attending this National Championship which provides reimbursement of up to $250 for travel, accommodation, ammunition and registration fee expenses. In addition, we will also provide a SSAA NSW State Team shirt to any junior who attends the Championship, represents NSW and is willing to send us a story and photos of the event which will be published in the NSW Shooter. For further information please contact Irena at the SSAA NSW Office no later than Friday 29 May 2015. Sponsor a junior and save your sport… For many years SSAA National has run the very successful 'Sponsor a Junior and Save your Sport' campaign where SSAA members are encouraged to sign up juniors for SSAA membership. More details on this campaign can be found on the SSAA National website at www.ssaa.org.au. Shooting – a great family sport… The shooting sports are unique; our sport is one of the few that encourages family participation and enables all family members (over the age of 12) to participate in the same competitions and enjoy the same activities without separation due to age or gender. It was interesting to see in the feedback from our membership survey that just over 56% of members have other family members involved in the sport and for 60% of those members, it's their son and/or daughter. Personally, I was introduced to hunting by my father in my teens and then later, again thanks to dad, became involved in target shooting. To this day, dad and I still enjoy some family rivalry whenever we're both shooting in a competition together – which is usually Cowboy Lever Action Silhouette! Shooting is a safe, fun and unique sport which encompasses a variety of activities and encourages comradery between family and friends. It's an Olympic sport which provides young people with potential representative opportunities at local, state, national and international levels – where their aspirations and dedication can take them anywhere. We just need to encourage our juniors to come along to the range and 'have a go'! Diana Melham Executive Director - SSAA (NSW) Inc. SPC Information Sessions To find out more about the Supplementary Pest Control Program and what you need to do to become involved, come along to one of the following Information Sessions: Hay – Friday 22 May Cobar or Broken Hill** – Saturday 23 May Batemans Bay – Sunday 24 May Coffs Harbour – Monday 25 May Details on times, venues and how to book a place will be sent to members who have registered their interest with SSAA NSW. If you haven't yet registered, visit the SSAA NSW website at www.ssaansw.org.au and select the green 'Register for SPC Program' button. ** Venue to be confirmed

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