This week is National Volunteer Week – Australia’s largest annual celebration of the important role of volunteers in our community.
While there are a vast number of volunteers among SSAA members, we wanted to take this opportunity to recognise a selection of volunteers who have been nominated by their peers for the contribution they make in strengthening our communities.
- Gavin Marshall has been recognised for his selfless commitment to the SSAA Springsure Benchrest Club. We have been told that Gavin embodies the true spirit of community and dedication.
Of note, when the club faced the challenge of not having a range, he went above and beyond to help find a new location. Gavin put in countless hours, along with other volunteers to turn the range into a new home for Benchrest community.
- Scott Piper has been nominated for his volunteering efforts at the Adelaide Target Shooters Club.
We have been told that Scott does an amazing job helping as a Range officer, FSTI trainer and chief BBQ taster, and without volunteers like him, clubs within SSAA would not function.
- Michael Manini and Mark Butler have both been nominated for the outstanding work they do with the Melbourne Sporting Rifle Club (MSRC) at Eagle Park and Springvale Ranges. We have been told that both of them also have a lot to do with the Youth Training Scheme (YTS Springvale), as well as training and running the juniors’ shoots.
- Bob McMillan has been recognised for his commitment to the safe and smooth running of range sessions as Chief Range Officer at Q14 SSAA Davison Range, Sunshine Coast.
We have been told that Bob is a proactive problem solver, a helper and a cheerful and friendly person for all range visitors.
- Ian Rufus has been nominated for his extensive and dedicated commitment to historical displays and events highlighting the positive impact of firearms in protecting the community throughout our nation’s history. Ian’s efforts have included the recent re-opening of Carcoar Railway Station, where he portrayed an 1860s policeman, displaying a period Colt Navy Revolver.
- Steve Luck, better known to all as “Lucky” has been recognised as a long-time committee member of the SSAA, Working Gundog Association Australia, Victorian Branch.
His nominators have said he is a skilled gundog handler and a central figure in all club activities, particularly the monthly training days via welcoming, encouraging and providing advice on gundog handling and training to new members. He is the first to arrive at training days, setting up the equipment and training runs, helping and guiding all attendees, and the last to leave after all the equipment has been correctly loaded under his watchful eye.
- Val Athanassiou has volunteered extensively within and beyond the shooting community. As part of his proud history of volunteering Val has been an advocate for mental health including filming and sharing stories of war veterans and their achievements.
Val’s nominators have also said he continually empowers and promotes juniors and adults in the sport of shooting.
Beyond this, Val has also recently become a justice of the peace for Victoria, enabling him to certify documents and assist with statutory declarations relating (but not limited to) firearm licence applications.
Thank you again for every volunteer within our membership who contribute their time and effort at clubs, in conservation, pest management and many other ways. It is fair to say that our communities would not thrive without you.