SSAA Tin Can Bay shoot
Gympie Life, Page: 20. Saturday, 23 May, 2009
The holiday weekend in early May saw a rather large influx of people to our lovely town: the Bay to Bay yacht race from Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay for trailer-sailers, the wonderful War Birds at the Model Aero Club, and the Queensland State Championships for Black Powder shooters at our range at the end of Rifle Fish Road.
Hopefully, all of the visitors to our area managed to enjoy what most locals take for granted: they are truly blessed to call Tin Can Bay home, and the weather was fairly 'favourable' for most of the weekend.
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 (including 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.
On Saturday May 2 at around 8 am, 46 licensed shooters signed on for the first day of competition: a really full day for everyone, and included family members and visitors. The day included a 'walk-up' shoot, stake shoot, gong shoot, turkey shoot, pistol and revolver target shoot, and fire-lighting without matches, prior to a traditional Tin Can Bay seafood dinner. The winner of the junior 'fire-lighting' 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 even Grafton, Casino, and Port Macquarie in NSW.
The Junior and Ladies gong shoot was held on Sunday May 3 and was an 'X' shoot for all competitors. This was followed by a fun balloon shoot and a, hilarious 'undies' shoot. Another pistol and musket competition ensued. A hawk- (hatchet) and knife-throwing event followed before dinner that evening.
On Monday May 4, shotgun discipline was practiced in the morning, followed by another pistol event and then the medal presentations at noon.
The 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.
The members of the Tin Can Bay Sporting Shooters Association (SSAA TCB) would like to thank all of the local people who helped us to make our 2009 Rendezvous such a special event: they could not have done without you.
Also huge thanks to those behind-the-scenes members 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.
Congratulations to all of the medal winners and thanks to all who joined in.
The next Rendezvous is eagerly anticipated when members will be able to catch up with old friends and hopefully make many new ones.
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