SSAA Riverland Branch

South Australia Club Profile

The SSAA Riverland Branch was founded on June 24, 1997. The complex it uses is the Barmera Rifle Club, which is also used by the National Rifle Association. Before the founding of the branch, delegates from Barmera Rifle Club (president Harry Howard, secretary Trevor Milne, treasurer Brenton White) and SSAA representatives (Michael Punturiero and state president Laurie Rees) held joint meetings. The group prepared a shared agreement that proposed the two clubs work together to enhance and promote the security of the Barmera Rifle Club. The members of the Barmera Rifle Club were very supportive of the agreement, which led to the sharing of the complex.

The complex consists of a 1000-yard Big Bore Range, which has a sheltered firing mound with national standard shooting benches on one side. The original clubrooms have been refurbished many times during the years and now feature toilet facilities. Camping areas are also available.

Future plans include extending the existing shooting mound to allow 500-metre shooting from the shelter firing line to cater for 500-metre fly shoots and military matches.

The range is certified for all SSAA matches, but the main interests are benchrest, hunter class rimfire/centrefire, field rifle 3P rimfire/centrefire, pistol rimfire/centrefire and military rifle/pistol matches.

The first president of the Riverland Branch was Michael Punturiero, with 58 inaugural members. At present, the club has 42 adult members and 52 junior members involved in the SSAA Cadet Challenge.

SSAA Riverland is involved in a feral management program called the Bookmark Biosphere, which is community supported and facilitated by local and national agencies. It is also a main supporter to Calperum and Taylorville stations, which run the Mallee Fowl Rehabilitation Program. The program is recognised internationally through the Bookmark Biosphere Reserve. The Bookmark Biosphere Feral Management Program was founded in Dec 1993 by the local community co-ordinator Michael Punturiero, supported by senior rangers Mike Harper, Tim Frazer and Bruce Lambie. The success in the program lead to the gun owners joining a local SSAA Branch to help them improve their marksmanship skills.

SSAA Riverland Branch is unique in that it has a very diverse membership; however, collectively, the members’ main interests are supporting junior development and community based environmental rehabilitation programs.

For contact information check the state branch list here.