SSAA Tin Can Bay Annual Rendezvous
2-4 May 2009
SSAA Tin Can Bay

The May Day long weekend for our black powder shooters began mid-week with our first enthusiasts setting up camp: modern accommodation (caravans/pop tops, etc) in one area; primitive camps on the other side - tents, open fireplaces, camp ovens, and the like. The weekend saw people from our era dressing in the garb of those who lived in the 1700-1800 period, and using black powder firearms relative to the same time.

Saturday at around 8am began with 46 licensed shooters signing on for the first day of competition - a really full day for everyone, including all family members and visitors. The day encompassed a walk-up shoot, stake shoot, gong shoot, turkey shoot, pistol & revolver target shoot, and firelighting without matches, prior to a traditional Tin Can Bay seafood dinner. The winner of the junior firelighting competition won the right to fire up the bonfire. Competitors and families came from far and wide - from Fraser Coast, Bundaberg, Tiaro, Gympie, Wondai, Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Ipswich, Brisbane; and Grafton, Casino, and Port Macquarie in NSW.

Sunday encompassed a Juniors and Ladies gong shoot, an X shoot for all competitors, then a fun balloon shoot and a hilarious ‘undies’ shoot, followed by another pistol and musket competition. A hawk (hatchet) and knife throwing event followed, before dinner.

Monday was devoted to shotgun discipline in the morning followed by another pistol event prior to medal presentations at noon. We older shooters were more than impressed that a junior took out the gold medal for the senior shotgun event.

From next year the winner of the Junior firelighting event will have his/her name engraved on a perpetual trophy in honour of Margarida Jackson who sadly lost her life in the floods at Kin Kin earlier this year; Margarida loved to encourage juniors in our sport, and her trophy will be one that all of our juniors will aspire to win.

We at SSAA TCB would like to thank all of the local people who helped us to make our 2009 Rendezvous such a special event; we couldn’t do this without you.

Also huge thanks to our members behind the scenes, those who spent months preparing for this state event - organising the range, the targets, the score sheets, and the trophies, along with those who did kitchen duties, and whatever else was needed to make our May Day weekend something quite special for everyone.