SSAA Bowen Branch Inc

Queensland Club Profile

Bowen is situated about halfway between Mackay and Townsville. It was the first settlement in North Queensland, and is part of the northern region of the Whitsundays.
SSAA Bowen was formed in 1987, when 16 shooters met under the direction of SSAA Townsville. Terry Hansen was the first President.

Nearly 20 years later, SSAA Bowen can list 63 financial members, including seven ladies and six junior members. Garrick Page is the current President.

The SSAA Bowen range has a maximum shooting distance of 100m. There is a roofed firing line, which is fully cemented and has wheelchair access. There are concrete benches for benchrest shooting and posts for field rifle-type events. The range clubhouse is complete with all necessary crockery, urn, cutlery, fridges, freezer, barbecue and toilets.

Both longarms and handgus are used at the club. For the longarm shooters there is Rimfire Field Rifle, Rimfire Hunter Class, Rimfire BR30, Lever Action and Rimfire Metallic Silhouette. Pistol shooters are catered for with Military Pistol, Single Action, Metallic Silhouette, Falling Plate, Metal Challenge and other events as required.

The range operates under some strict guidelines regarding what calibres and velocities may be used. This matter has been addressed, and work is currently being undertaken to increase the height of the 100m mounds to create a ‘No Danger Zone’ range. A 50m NDZ range is also planned.

The club encourages new members, and supplies instructors for shooting licence applicants. There are monthly courses, with participants encouraged to join the SSAA. The local paper is supplied with results from each weekend’s activities, and an invitation for people to come to the range and try shooting. The club has a number of ‘loan rifles’ for this purpose.

The annual Trevor Cooke Memorial Lever Action Shoot is between Bowen and Mackay branches, and alternates between the clubs.

Other parties using the range include a professional security weapons trainer, and the local National Service Branch which holds an annual shoot.

For more information contact: 07 4785 1638.