SSAA Goolwa Pistol and Shooting Club Inc

South Australia Club Profile

The SSAA (SA) Goolwa Pistol and Shooting Club originated from a public meeting held in the dining room of the Goolwa Hotel in October 1976.

Mr Athol Carle soon started the club and was its first president. At this time, the club had about 80 members. The club itself was built on a rifle range which dates back to the 1850s.

Nowadays, the club comprises a clubhouse and kitchen, a 25m range, a 25/50m range and an Air Pistol/Rifle indoor shooting range. The club committee is in the processes of promoting and upgrading the facilities to enhance the range areas for current members and to be more attractive to potential new members.

The club currently has about 50 members, 11 of whom are women. There are no junior members as yet but there are a few interested in joining. The club’s current President is Col Caire.

In the past, the club has been involved with supervised visits from scouts, air cadets and Canteen, and while there are no major events to be hosted at the club until the renovations are complete, the committee hopes to re-establish these contacts and be more pro-active within the local community by inviting groups from other clubs and associations to come and try the sport. The committee has already renewed their contact with the Goolwa library community database by providing them with the club’s details. Their aim is to use the local newspaper’s community pages to list their programmed meetings as they occur.

A lot of the newer club and committee members are new to the Fleurieu region as well. This has brought in many new ideas. Compliance with newer laws, rules and regulations, however, is still vital to the club and the shooting sports.

There is friendly competitive rivalry among members within the various disciplines. Disciplines shot are Centrefire, Centrefire Sport, 50m Rimfire, 25m Precision, Standard Gun, Rapidfire, Air Pistol/Rifle, Centrefire Rifle cast bullets only, Rimfire Rifle, BP Pistol and Rifle. Centrefire Sports Pistol has the most participants at the moment.

Knowledge and advice is freely shared between all members and you don’t have to achieve at any level other than that which you wish. There are some members who are literally aiming to achieve higher levels in their sport and while this is certainly respected and encouraged, the club finds that most members simply enjoy the club atmosphere and friendship of other members.