SSAA NSW

12 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. Try Shooting Day Supports Koala Hospital SSAA NSW Port Macquarie Branch recently hosted a Try Shooting Day to help raise funds for their local Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. The event, held over the weekend of 15-16 October, attracted quite a few parents and juniors and offered visitors the chance to try their hand at both air rifl e and rimfi re rifl e. Budding shooters started with 10m air rifl e at the SSAA NSW Mobile Air Rifl e Range under the instruction of Libby Raso, Irena Sanda and Diana Melham from the SSAA NSW Offi ce. They then moved on to rimfi re rifl e, where they were shooting off the bench to 50 metres. Some very impressive groups were shot by a few keen young shooters – some even returning the next day to attempt to better their score! Barry Cook and Dennis Adlington, along with a number of Branch members, volunteered their time over the weekend to make it a success. The event raised in excess of $300 for the local Koala Hospital which was established in 1973 and is staffed entirely by volunteers. The Hospital carries out onsite procedures, except for major surgeries and X-rays, and offers education and training to school and visitor groups. Try Shooting Days are a wonderful opportunity to showcase our sport and demonstrate just how safe and fun shooting really is. More often than not people walk away with a smile on their face and a new understanding of the shooting sports. Even if they never pick up a fi rearm again, they've experienced shooting and gained a fi rsthand understanding of the safety and responsibility needed to participate in our sport. Above all, Try Shooting Days are a great way to build awareness and acceptance within the wider community.

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