Blue Hills Sporting Shooters Club

Tasmania Club Profile

When a group of dedicated and likeminded people get together, things usually happen. That was the case with a number of pistol enthusiasts in Tasmania who saw the need for a pistol club in the early 1980s. The result was the Peninsula Pistol Club.

In 1990, the club moved from the Marion Bay area to Copping and renamed itself the Copping Pistol Club. In 2003, when membership was at an all-time low, a decision was made to join the SSAA. Looking back, it was a very wise move. The club is now called the SSAA Blue Hills Sporting Shooters Club and has been growing in numbers ever since.

The branch is led by President John Wise, Vice President Ron Kemp and Secretary Diana Wise. Membership stands at a healthy 75. Colin Stevens is one of the 55 male members of the club. He is also the only remaining original member and the branch’s only life member.

The Blue Hills provide the beautiful backdrop for the branch’s three ranges a 200m pistol and rifle ranges and a Down the Line (DTL) range. Both the pistol and rifle ranges have covered firing lines with attached clubrooms, storage sheds and barbecue areas.

To accommodate its steady growth, the club sought and obtained approval from the local council and police firearms branch for a 500m range. In an effort to cater to the social aspect that is such a part of the shooting sports, plans are underway for a camping area that will be adjacent to the clubrooms. A grant is also being sought from the Tasmanian Government for shower and toilet facilities.

Other changes set to take place include the introduction of a junior development program. Work will begin once the new benchrest area is complete. Support from three local high schools is currently being petitioned.

All disciplines of pistol, rifle and DTL shotgun are conducted. The facility is set up in such a way that allows for all three ranges to be used concurrently. Shooting takes place every second Saturday and Sunday, as well as the last Sunday of each month.

Each year the club successfully hosts the State Lever Action Championships and the State Field Rifle Championships.

A facility as fine as that found at Blue Hills has to be shared - and it is. The SSAA Pontville Branch also uses this range, specifically for centrefire Field Rifle and centrefire Lever Action shoots.

The reputation of this branch as a friendly and family-orientated club has spread. New members are joining all the time and President John Wise says that they have a number of people visiting each month.

For more information contact: secretary Diana Wise on 03 6257 5194.