Club News
April President's Report.
Thanks this month goes to Norman Rydge Marine Sydney for sponsoring the April shoot. Gav & Deb Moulding were the course designers and did a magnificent job in designing and setting up the course. Unfortunately a few members who were rostered on to help set up the course failed to front up, which makes it one hell of along day for the ones that do turn up. Nobody is asked to do more than one or two setups per year so if you can't make it, please try and find a replacement for your absense. EVERBODY was issued with an up to date roster and if you are unsure you can check with the web site to confirm.Gav shot a magnificent 90/100 to take out the overall and sash, while Mark Gschwend A grade, Craig Field B grade, Pat Jubb C grade, Jan Redman Ladies and Grace Gschwend Juniors, all took home the main prize and medal for winning their respective grades.
At days end "Captain" Dave Cook officially, opened our newly purchased range, so to one and all, congratulations and well done.We now own our own gun club.
"Captain" also informed us that he will not be seeking re-election for secretary at the upcoming A.G.M. So if you, or somebody you know is interested in this very important position please let a committee member know A.S.A.P.
Bermi members were well represented at prize presentations at the recent Cooma Classic held over the four days of Easter. So well done to all our members who participated and especially prize winners.
It was also bought to our attention over the Easter shoot about the condition of some of the score sheets that were handed in over the course of the 4 days. Shooters are reminded that if you are in charge of the score sheet and make a mistake for what ever reason, DO NOT attempt to rub out the score, just clearly make the correct mark over the mistake,initial above the correction,and inform the referee and fellow squad members of the alteration, the office will take care of the rest.
Nev & Gav Moulding />Good to see a few juniors starting to turn up on a regular basis, and don't forget Mark & Jan Raabe, have kindly donated a great prize for the Junior who racks up the most points over the course of the year.A great effort was put in by a small crew at our last working bee, we managed to cut up and split many tons of firewood which will come in handy over the coming winter months. I know I harp on this particular subject a fair bit, but realisticly, the club would not be in the position it finds itself in at the present if it were not for the efforts of our "unofficial" ladies committee who never cease to amaze me with their magniicent array of coleslaws, salads,cakes and slices every shoot day.
So to Carmel Diss, Rhonda Drakos,Jan Raabe,Amber Raabe, Barbie Magrin, Sue White, Sheree Hurst, Marj O'Brien, Pat Fields ,Elspeth Dunn, Deb Moulding, Shelley Craig, Carol Cook and of course my own little treasure " Shirl The Girl" please take a well earned bow. If I have missed anybody I apologise.
The next shoot will be our novelty shoot for the year " Mario's Pairs" which is a bundle of laughs with some great prizes and is proudly sponsored by Muz & Barbie Magrin. So until next month, Shoot Straight & Often.
Nev B.
President's Report March 2012.
What a great day it was last Sunday. We received word that the Title exchange had gone through and we now own our very own gun club, congratulations to everyone of our members for making this possible. At the next shoot, Dave "Captain" Cook will officially open OUR gun club because without Dave's expertise in dealing with mountainous loads of red tape and beauocracy we would surely be still miles away from where we are today.Once again congratulations to everyone.On a sad note Sunday was the last shoot to be sponsored by Mal & Kelly Stubbs from Hoodlum Tackle.Mal tells me they are selling the business and trying something different,so on behalf of the club we wish Mal & Kelly all the best for the future and thank you for your support over the years.
I did mention this situation at presentations on Sunday, and low and behold, I had to go into Bega on Monday on business and as I was walking down the street I got a tap on my shoulder from a bloke who said, " I hear you are looking for a sponsor". I explained the situation and he said that under anonymity he would be only to happy to pick up the tab for the March shoot next year and maybe beyond. How many clubs, let alone gun clubs, can boast that kind of community support. Thanks again " Grumpy".
Craig Sando has done a magic job organizing our current array of club shirts, coats, hats, jackets, etc.so if you're interested give Craig or one of the committee a bell for more info. Our numbers were down a bit last Sunday(40) but a few of our fella's were tied up with the C.R.A.B.S. Motorbike show in town which by all accounts was a huge success, and our western neighbours, Cooma, have had their trips to the coast severely hampered by the land slip halfway up the Brown. Great to see Barry & Elspeth Dunn make the alternate mountain trip down to the coast, with both sharing in the prizes for the day. Barry had his number drawn out for the shoot raffle and the $350 on offer, but Barry, being the true blue club supporter that he is graciously let the first target slip under the radar. $400 up for grabs next month.
The Cooma Classic is just around the corner, hear tell Baz & Caz are coming down from up north so it will be good to catch up. Muzz, myself Barb & Shirl are all booked in at Buckendarra for the week so we are all looking forward to lots of clay target busting and some huge rainbow trout on the dinner plate. Can't wait.
Congratulations to James Drakos for winning the major prize in the C.R.A.B.S. Raffle, a tinny and motor with all the accessories, couldn't go to a better young fella.
Congrats also to Daniel Hurst on his engagement to Kylie Andreatta. Best wishes for the future. Club workaholic Phil Craig has just had a bit of minor surgery done to his not so pretty face which has left him with a bit of facial scarring. He reminds me of somebodies lovechild but I just can't put my finger on who.Until next month when Deb and Gav Moulding will be setting the course on behalf of Rydge Marine in Sydney.
Till next time, shoot straight and often.
Nev B.
President's Report Febuary 2012.
A big thanks this month to gary Georgiou and his family at Safari Firearms. Gary has been a long time supporter of the Bermi Field & Game, and the Committee encourages all our members to support Gary whenever you can. This year Gary's shoot incorporated a " Springing Teal" event which was hotly contested but the eventual winner was the coursr designer, Darren Redman, who took home the main prize as well as first place in A grade. Other winners were AA grade, Gav Moulding, B grade, James Price, C grade, Pat Jubb. Ladies, Jan Redman and Juniors was won by young Dylan Reid. Well done to all.The day was capped off when club stalwart, Phillip Craig, was awarded Life Membership of the Bermagui Field & Game. Phil has been a tireless worker for the club. Since he joined some 10 years ago, he has been a dedicated committee member, number one gate & fence erector, chainsaw operater, bush furniture maker, clay target pick-er-up-er-er and purchasing officer, trap mechanic, wood heap maintainer, raffle ticket seller and is usually the first to arrive and last to leave working bee's. The committee and members congratulate Phil on a magnificent achievment.
I ran a licence testing course on the Saturday before the shoot and 2 participants, Korin Clarke and her young bloke, Christopher, were out at the club on sunday having a shot after filling out the mandatory P650 forms. Chris ended up winning a prize in the Junior category and Korin said they had had a ball and can't wait for the next shoot.
"Barkers" is still on the sick list but is on the improve, so it should'nt be long till he is back in full flight, causing havoc amongst the masses. Great to see Carmel Diss back on deck and improving everyday.
I had the pleasure of shooting at Sale Field & Game Australia range in East Gippsland last weekend. They only shoot 50 targets for the day but when you consider a normal shoot has about 40 squads, yes squads, you can understand why. The whole day ran like clockwork under the guidance of long time field & game member, Pud Howard and his band of many men. The course is set on 200 acres, which the club owns, and is bordered on all sides by pine forests which prevents them from being built out. They have a fully stocked canteen which is run by the ladies committee. They have a basic tin shed style club rooms with TV usual sponsor signage, award winner boards etc,ect.a nom's office with P.A. System which is just a hive of activity from go to whoa. They have a toilet block and fenced off kids playground and the club appears to be very family orientated with mums, dads, and kids everywhere. The club also boasts a five stand set up, and a competion skeet layout which are both fully operational on shoot days, so punters can get as much practice as they want before they begin to shoot or between rounds for a very nominal fee. If you are ever down that way I would thoroughly recommend you check it out.
Just on this subject, why the Field & Game Federation and Fiels & Game Australia hierachy's can't sit down and come to some commom sense"decision on devison" is totally bewildering to me. What do other readers of this column think?
Till Next Time Shoot Straight and Often.
Nev B.STATE SELECTION: FIELD & GAME NEWS
A glorious clear and very warm morning last Sunday the 29th greeted those shooters who had come from far and wide for the first State Selection shoot of The NSW Field and Game Federation calendar year at the Bermagui Field & Game Range. 72 shooters from Ardlethan, Bermagui, Canberra, Cooma, Dubbo, Mudgee, Port Phillip, Sydney and Temora made the great effort to support the Bermagui club at this major event.With this important shoot very generously sponsored by our very own Bermagui Country Club, a very tough course was set by the dedicated band of committee members and non-shooting helpers from Bermagui, and those present did their very best to post a reasonable score to try and get some points towards state selection. The committee had decided that only those who were not shooting this weekend should be involved in target setting so that no shooter had any advantage over another by seeing the targets prior to the event. This proved to be the best and fairest to all shooters.
Some of our travelling shooters came a few days early to sample the great Bermagui weather, do some fishing, experience the Bermagui hospitality, and also put some dollars back into our business community to help the long term survival of our great town. With some very ordinary starts by some of the better shooters, they settled in for the day over the two course 100 targets on offer, and by the lunchtime Barbeque, a pattern was emerging as to who was handling which side of the hill the best. At day's end we had shoot offs in almost all categories and from that the winners emerged.
After the totals were added up and scores double checked the Sub Juniors Division was 1st Jarrod Williams 74 (Mudgee), 2nd Mathew Wilesmith 59 (Temora), 3rd Mark Wilesmith 58 (Temora).
Juniors Division was won by Jarrod Ringland 39 (Bermagui) and with no competition he was in the prizes just for making the effort.
Ladies Division was well won by Kathryn Saddler on 61 (Sydney), 2nd Rebecca Wilesmith 51 (Temora), 3rd Jan Redman 50 (Bermagui).
Super Veterans was well contested with 1st Dennis Coaker on 71 (Dubbo) taking the sash, with Bob Duncan 2nd with 70 (Bermagui) and 3rd Col O'Brien on 56 (Bermagui).
Veterans had a good rollup with Steve Newcombe in 1st with 77 (Sydney), 2nd to John Sidoti 76 (Dubbo), 3rd Roger Beaton 63 (Sydney).
'C' Grade went to a visiting shooter from Sydney (1st time at the course) Vassilios Lialiaris with 61, 2nd to John Gray 53 (Bermagui), 3rd to Patrick Jubb 52 (Bermagui). 'B' Grade 1st was Robert Briscas (Sydney) on 65+6 after a shoot off with 2nd placed Terry "Curls" Thistleton 65+4 (Cooma), and Craig Field 3rd on 62 (Bermagui).
'A' Grade was taken out by Peter Rea on 72 (Dubbo), 2nd Michael Munro 71 (Ardlethen), 3rd Rodney Carr (Dubbo) 70+7 after a shoot off with Anthony Williams (Mudgee) on 70+5.
'AA' Grade 1st was Andrew Bell (Sydney) with 75+8 after a shoot off with 2nd Brett Inch (Dubbo) on 75+4, and 3rd to Steve Payne 75 (Mudgee).
The well deserved High Gun for this event was another top shooter from Mudgee in Peter Kay who recorded an excellent score of 77+9 in a shoot off with Stephen Newcombe on 77+5 to take the Overall Sash.
This brings us to the final competition event for the day which was The Adrian Hayes Memorial Teams event. With teams nominating from Mudgee, Bermagui, Sydney, Cooma, Ardlethan/Temora and Dubbo, the race was on to see which team could get their name on this prestigious trophy. With some excellent scores all round, Dubbo Team comprising Peter Kay, John Sidoti, Peter Rea & Dennis Coaker were too good and won it by a seven target margin from the Mudgee Team of Steve Payne, Anthony Williams, Jarrod Williams & Reno Morganti in 2nd place. Equal 3rd was Bermagui One and Sydney about 20 targets behind.
All of the prizes, sashes and medals were presented by the Chairman of the Board of the Bermagui Country Club, Mr. Geoff Vercoe, and the President of NSW State Federation Trevor Heise, along with President Nev Brady, and were happily received by all participants. Bermagui Field & Game would like to sincerely thank all of the winners for their participation and we hope that you all enjoyed the targets and the renowned hospitality of the Bermagui Field & Game club.
To all of those Bermagui people who put in the big effort to ensure our visiting shooters where well catered for and happy, we say a very big thank you. To Shelley Craig and Caz Radford, we are very proud of your effort in keeping the office ticking over so smoothly, a huge job on the day done to perfection.
To the excellent Chefette's, the cooks, salad makers, the fish suppliers, oyster openers, the cake and biscuit makers all, and to the trappers, what a job, and we think everyone would have been very impressed with your supreme efforts.
After all of the official presentations were made, President Nev Brady made a very moving speech and the presentation from the committee and members of a beautifully engraved Pewter Plate and a bottle of the prized Bermagui Field & Game Special Aged Scotch Whisky to club stalwarts Neil "Baz" & Carole "Caz" Radford who are leaving the district, moving up the coast closer to the family unit.
In his emotional reply, "Baz" thanked everyone in the club and all those that he and "Caz" had the pleasure to call fiends, and thanked everyone for making them so welcome way back in 2003 to the Toast of the Coast, Bermagui Field & Game Club, and said that they would still make the effort to visit and would maintain their long term friendships and club affiliations.
The day ended with some relaxation for those that had worked so hard to make this event the success it was and planning is already underway for another State Shoot should Bermagui be asked to host it.
For all detailed results, photo's and goings on at Bermagui Field & Game, please visit the website at "bermaguifieldandgame.info" for all the information. Cheers.
January President's Report
I hope everybody had a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year, it sure seems to take the wind out of your sails as you get older. A big thankyou to "Santa" who sponsored our Christmas shoot, once again it was a wonderful day, with some top targets, prizes and lots of fun had by all. Good to see 9 juniors at this shoot and we hope they continue to role up in such good numbers throughout 2012 as Mark & Jan Raabe have kindly donated a magnificent trophy and sponsoship for our junior shooter of the year.
Our first shoot in January was sponsored by Phil & Shelley Craig (side by side) and Classic Race & Performance Engineering (Under & Overs). Phil set a very testy couple of courses which challenged even our best shooters, but there was nothing out beyond 35 metres so if you missed targets it was your own fault. Our next shoot is the first NSW State selection shoot for 2012 proudly sponsored by Federation and the Bermagui Country Club. The course will be set up by a group of dedicated volunteers who have kindly forfeited their days shooting in order to set up 2 ranges and run the shoot. The club is extremely indebted to this group of members.
At the set-up on the Saturday prior to the shoot we do NOT want people who are shooting in the State Selection out at the range helping as the committee feels this would give our local shooters a decided advantage over the rest of the field, and with shooters coming from as far away as Dubbo, Mudgee. Sydney etc. to support our club and try to gain State Selection we feel this is the fairest and best way to approach the situation. Bear in mind this is only for this shoot and at any normal shoot members will be more than welcome at Saturday set-up.
Good too see Carmel Diss out and about and on the road to recovery, also Pat Tennant who is progressing in leaps and bounds. Donny Redman seems to be back firing on all cylinders while Ian Barklamb has returned to Canberra hospital with a few ongoing problems. Get well quick " Barkers ", from all at the club.
This month will also see Neil & Carole Radford have their final shoot at the club and it will be sad to see them go as they have been tireless workers for the club over many years and have taken on roles within the club from "boot studder" to "President" all with great distinction. They have represented our club at local, interstate and overseas shoots and Caz has even won state sashes. All I can say on behalf of the club is "Thanks Gang" and may the futrue hold great happiness and fond memories of Bermi Field & Game.
Till next month Shoot Staight & Often. Nev B.
First Shoot of 2012
After a night of wind and rain, Sunday morning saw more showers to greet the band of 48 shooters who turned up to for the first shoot of 2012. The course was set and checked, the shooters were ready, and after some discussions on the weather, the shoot got under way on the two course layout. With shooters from Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Cooma, Wollongong, Eden, Karratha (WA) and Bibbenluke, they took to the course to try their luck. With some of the targets very challenging the shooters got a bit rattled and some dropped some early targets to put them behind the eight ball. With the weather improving all the time, the scores also improved and in the end there were some very good scores shot over the day, but still no 25's. After the scores were tallied and the handicaps added on, the winner of the Under and Over section sponsored by club member Bruce Arthurson was Dan Bruinsma in A Grade, followed by Craigh Hurst and Nev Brady. B Grade was well won by our oldest club shooter in Col O'Brien with a great score, followed by Richard Seears from Cooma in 2nd place, with Christopher Raabe taking 3rd. C Grade was hotly contested with visiting shooter from Melbourne, Jonathon White, taking out 1st place with Graeme Tunbridge 2nd and Colin Brownlie 3rd. The Side by Side event was contested by an ever growing number of shooters with 18 lining up for this handicap event generously sponsored by club stalwarts Phil & Shelley Craig. When the scores were checked and the handicaps added, and with prizes paying from one to ten, the overall sash winner of the event was Mark Corbett from Cooma just a few shots ahead of 2nd place getter Ron Manly, with 3rd to Darren Redman, 4th Neil "Baz" Radford, 5th Phil Craig, 6th Mark Raabe, 7th Craig Field, 8th Roger Budd, 9th Terry Thisleton, and 10th place to Pat Jubb. Great prizes, great rollup, great food and a great shoot. Our thanks go to everyone who pitched in at short notice to make this a day to remember, and a fitting opening to the 2012 shooting season. Next shoot is the first State Selection shoot hosted by the Bermagui Field and Game Club, and sponsored by the Bermagui Country Club, on Sunday the 29th January, and is expected to bring many fine shooters from all over the State, and will also bring welcome income to Bermagui businesses while they are here. Pre-Nominations are essential for this event and they close on Sunday 15th January. Nomination forms are available from the club Treasurer via the club website. So for the nomination forms, more club news, results, photos, upcoming events and other information about the club, please go to our website at "bermaguifieldandgame.info", or contact President Nev Brady on 6493 3103 during office hours.