SSAA Townsville Branch Inc

Queensland Club Profile

SSAA Townsville was formed on July 25, 1965 and was initially known as the Sporting Shooters Association of North Queensland. The office bearers at the first meeting were president Ray Falcon, vice president John Napier, secretary Les Popham and range officers John Hart and John Davis.

Initial membership was 11 but since that time it has grown to 1552 active members, 12 per cent of which is made up of women. Currently, there are eight junior members.

The club hosts an annual school camp for Year 10 students from the Townsville Catholic School, Ignatius Park and caters for local youth and church groups. It has also begun to attract service clubs such as Rotary to the range for meetings and a shoot.

SSAA Townsville leases the range complex from the Townsville Marksman’s Club. The two organisations maintain a strong relationship and see a good deal of cross-membership. Complex facilities include a well-equipped canteen and a covered club area capable of accommodating more than 100 individuals. This past year, the Thuringowa City Council helped the club build a disability access toilet as an additional ablution facility and another toilet block is currently under construction.

The main ranges are the 200m rifle, 200m pistol, both with covered firing lines, and the shotgun range, which is currently being equipped with a trap house. The club also uses the 1000m range for disciplines such as service rifle. A camping area is adjacent to the 200m rifle range, which is used for benchrest, field rifle, black powder, 4P, lever action and air rifle disciplines. Service match, silhouette, action match, snubby pistol and IPSC are also conducted on the 200m pistol range.

The Townsville Branch is unique in that it has an environment officer on the managing committee and recently it was awarded a National Heritage Trust grant from the Federal Government for purposes of erosion control.

For contact information check the state branch list here.