SSAA Para Branch

South Australia Club Profile

The first shoot was conducted at Para on February 9, 1969. Among the original shoot organisers were Bill Hambley-Clark, George and Orial Francis, George Barnes, Gil Hartwig, Les Tomkins, Colin Matthews and Jarvis Langford - who was also Para’s first President. The current President is Steve Nicholas.

Today there are more than 400 members, many of who are female. Unfortunately, there are not as many juniors as Para would like - hopefully this profile will encourage them to join!

In the past, Para has been involved with the ‘Life be in it’ campaign - organising ‘come and try’ youth activities to increase awareness of shooting as a sport. In order to attract junior shooters, the junior membership fee was dropped to $10, and this remains unchanged today.

Para currently shoot ISU Pistol, Western Action, Practical Shooting, Handgun Silhouette (weekends and Thursday mornings), Air Pistol (Wednesday night), Air Rifle (Friday night), Benchrest, Field Rifle, Metallic Silhouette Rifle (rimfire), 3P and 4P rifle, Field Shotgun (weekends and Thursday afternoon), Lever Action Rifle, Military Service Rifle and Pistol, Muzzle Loading/Black Powder Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun, Single Shot Rifle. There is also a Collectors Club operating at Para.

The disciplines are shot on the main rifle range out to 275 metres, a 100-metre range, a 50-metre range, 25-metre pistol range and an indoor ten-metre air pistol/rifle range.

Para have spent about $100,000 on baffles for most of their ranges.

The Branch has hosted National Championships in all of the rifle disciplines, the Masters Games events, and Trans Tasman competitions for Field Rifle. The next National Championships will be Lever Action in October 2005.

The range is used by scout groups, TAFE, Parks and Wildlife and security groups for training purposes.

Situated north-east of Adelaide, about 40 minutes from the CBD, the Para Branch is easy to get to, always active and very family-orientated. New members are always welcome.

For more information contact: email nicholas@merlin.net.au or GPO Box 2013, Adelaide, SA 5000.