Wagga’s Inaugural Anzac Day Charity Shoot
25 April 2009

Legacy secretary Tony Edwards, left, with SSAA
Wagga junior vice president Bruce Milne and Greg
Hannon at the range before their Anzac Day Shoot.


Peter Smith, centre, won first place at the SSAA
Wagga Anzac Day Charity Shoot. Greg Hannon,
left, and Greg Blake took out third and second
place respectively.


SSAA Wagga committee member Greg Hannon,
left, gives a cheque for $330 to the president of
Legacy, with Legacy members looking on and
SSAA Wagga Anzac Day Charity Shoot trophy
winner Peter Smith, front. I am a collector by nature with a leaning towards the Australian Light Horse firearms and the Lee-Enfield in particular. I became a member of the SSAA in 2001 to satisfy my requirements for a collector’s licence and in 2006, I thought I might have a go at the military competitions held each month. One of the first members I met was our competition coordinator Don Ewin, to whom I made a rather offhand comment about just wanting to shoot my .303s, that I didn’t mind whether I was competitive or not and that I’d just do the best I could with the gear I had. Don has never let me forget that statement and brings it up at every chance, especially if I do well in a competition. I don’t believe myself to be that competitive, although my wife would have you believe otherwise. I suppose the fact that I amassed enough points in 2007 to take out the club championship may be some indication.

As I found my feet in the club and became more vocal at our monthly meetings, the question was asked whether we were going to do something on Anzac Day. In the past year or two, we had held a very informal shoot on the day, with only a handful of shooters turning up. However, I, with my newfound confidence, suggested we do something more in remembrance of the men and women who served their country. It would be more in keeping with other Anzac Day celebrations, not just another day at the range. This was discussed without any real decision made, other than yes, we’d shoot on April 25. Don suggested that I might like to draw up a course of fire. Not one to take idle dares lightly, I agreed. Based on some old images from a musketry manual, I set about drawing up a course of fire. It would be 10 shots offhand rapid-fire at 50 yards starting with five rounds in the magazine, then loading the next five rounds via a charger clip in one minute; 10 shots sitting/kneeling at 100 yards in 10 minutes; and 10 shots prone at 200 yards in 10 minutes. I set about writing an introduction and the rules.

Our junior vice president Bruce Milne had been given around 1200 rounds of ex-military ammunition, so we hatched a plan to use it. We would charge all the competitors $5 for 40 rounds (10 for practice and 30 for the competition) and the money, along with the range fees from the day, would be donated to Legacy. All competitors using the same ammo would be in keeping with the Military shoots from days gone by, and put all at the same disadvantage. The rules were then set that only Lee-Enfield’s in .303-calibre ‘as issued’ would be used.

At the next meeting, I suggested a trophy of some description for the winner. There would be no place-gettings, just a ‘winner takes all’ top score on the day.

At the time, I was working at the Army Recruit Training Centre, Blamey Barracks at Kapooka, so I had a look in the soldiers shop for a suitable trophy. As luck would have it, I found a very moving portrait by Captain Conway Bowen of the Australian Army Aviation Corp of a Light Horseman superimposed over a medieval knight on horseback. It was titled ‘Les enfants dans une terre ancienne’ (Children in an ancient land) with words from Ion Idriess’s war diaries of 1918 and his experiences on the Western Front. I had found the trophy!

My wife runs a business called the Wagga Restoration Centre and little did she know at the time, but she was about to donate a framed portrait and three medals to my cause. While I said ‘winner takes all’, these medals were too good to pass up, so it was off to the engraver to have the medals done and small plaques affixed to the now-framed portrait.

Some promotion was now needed if the event was going to get off the ground. My wife, whom I must say was very sympathetic to the cause, offered to do an historic window display at the shop, so I gathered some of my Light Horse gear and the trophy and the display was done. But we needed more.

I approached Kieren Tilly, one of the photographers from the local paper (who just happens to be a shooter!), and suggested that he photograph the display at the shop and that it might make a good photo opportunity for the paper leading up to Anzac Day. He took such a great shot, it was published in full color and covered the entire front page of the Weekend Advertiser on Anzac Day. A first for Kieren and certainly a first for SSAA Wagga!

Kieren suggested I contact someone from the Wagga Legacy Club who would be the beneficiary of any monies raised and get some feedback from them. Tony Edwards was an old mate of mine and is the secretary of Wagga Legacy Club. He also just happens to own a restored WWII Willies Jeep and trailer and is a keen collector of all things military. We headed out to the range (a good excuse to give the Jeep a run) to get some publicity shots with the hope of getting at least one in the paper leading up to the day. Scott Sandbrook from the Wagga Leader published a very good article and photo promoting not only our Anzac Day shoot, but the current and planned improvements for our range. Brochures were strategically placed around town and we’d tell anybody who’d listen.

The day was finally upon us. The starting time was 1pm, so everyone had the opportunity to attend the dawn service ceremonies and the march down the main street with enough time to drive the short distance to the range. The day started overcast with rain forecast all weekend - just what we didn’t need! Fortunately, it held off for all the celebrations, which was a blessing for the town, but then it fairly bucketed down just as we got underway. Hats off to all those who attended despite the weather.

We had 15 shooters turn up and five spectators. The rain fell on and off all day, but this did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the shooters. The event was shot with a fairly lighthearted spirit of competition, but with some competitors at a distinct disadvantage having to use borrowed rifles and not being familiar with sight settings and the like. The ex-military ammo we all used kept things interesting, not to mention the scores low, with some misfires and hangfires. However, all these obstacles were met with a laugh and a grin. Some of the more experienced shooters freely gave their time in coaching the less experienced and first-timers with tips and helpful hints. This was gratefully appreciated.

The top-three shooters were Peter Smith, Greg Blake and myself. A great day was had by all despite the weather, and all agreed it was a great success, with Wagga Legacy Club being the real winner on the day with $330 being raised and a cheque being presented to a very grateful president and committee. Plans are already underway to procure enough ex-military ammo for next year and I’m quietly confident that we’ll achieve this.

Many thanks go to Kieren Tilly from the Wagga Daily Advertiser for all his efforts and photos, Scott Sandbrook from the Wagga Leader for his wonderful articles, Bruce Milne for donating the ammo and all the members who helped on the day. Thank you also to all the competitors who braved the terrible weather conditions to make our Inaugural SSAA Wagga Anzac Day Charity Shoot the great success it was.

An open invitation is extended to all SSAA members who would like to attend next year. For more information, call Greg Hannon on 0418 463 480.

by Greg Hannon
photos by Kieren Tilly,
courtesy of Wagga Daily Advertiser