As supplied by Clive Hammet

A Brief History of East Gippsland Branch SSAA (V19) First AGM June 27th 1996 held in Main Hotel, Bairnsdale. Members from this meeting involved for some years – John Peters, Max Dyer (Dec), Jim Neville (Dec) and Murray Mitchell. John Peters is the only remaining member from that initial meeting. Chris Walker, Dave Weston and Clive Hammet became involved in the next few months. Meeting Places: Main Hotel Bairnsdale, Bairnsdale Pistol Club, Ellisville Hall, Bairnsdale Fire Station. Property searches – much time, investigation and proposals were submitted to SSAA Vic. Approximate dates Towii – Munro, 2003 – 2004 Initial Clydebank, 2006 Delvine – Billabong, 2007 - 2008 Anderson’s Lane, Bairnsdale 2007 - 2008 Clydebank 2010 Various rifle ranges were investigated. Approaches were made to both Bairnsdale Field & Game and Bairnsdale Pistol Club, as well as Buchan VRA to share facilities. Buchan Shooting Range: ➢ 2003 – First CPM testing shoot was conducted at Buchan VRA Range. ➢ 2004 – First approaches made to DSE by Chris Walker to share the use of Buchan Rifle Range. ➢ Chris Walker and Clive Hammet continued to liaise with VRA, DSE and SSAA Vic for shared use. ➢ John Peters was working with District Firearms Officers on feasibility of range for SSAA use. ➢ Allen Jenkins worked with John Peters and DFO’s Lindsay Griffin and Stuart Jones to prepare Range Use Rules. ➢ Margaret McMahon at DSE was liaising with Buchan VRA until negotiations were curtailed at which time she worked with EGB towards a leasing arrangement. ➢ 2011 – Tracey West at DSE drew up legal agreement for EGB to have sole use of Buchan Range on an annual lease. ➢ First Buchan Shoot – Summer Shoot – January 2012 following working bee the previous day. ➢ First regular shoot at Buchan – March 2013, combined with Black Powder Shooters.

First regular Shoots: *** Monthly Shoots at Bairnsdale Pistol Club from early 2000’s to 2015 for both Juniors and Adults with members coming from as far afield as Orbost, Sale and Omeo.

Junior’s Activities: ➢ Trips to shoot with other SSAA Vic Juniors to Bonang, Shepparton and SSAA Springvale. ➢ Trip to shoot with other SSAA Australia members to Brisbane. ➢ Regular Pistol Shoots with other SSAA Vic Juniors.

2007 SSAA Vic Awards: Presented at Hawthorn Town hall to East Gippsland Branch members. Teagan Johnston of Bairnsdale won Junior Shooter of the year. Jamie Houghton won Parks Vic Award. Clive and Jenni Hammet won Volunteer Administrator’s Award.

Some of the other activities carried out by East Gippsland Branch SSAA in the first 20 years. Take Your Shot – combined with Bairnsdale Field & Game, Bairnsdale Pistol Club, and Bairnsdale Clay target Club across all venues for an Open Day to highlight shooting sports to non-shooters. 2005 – Come & Try Day: was sponsored by East Gippsland Shire Council for people to try a variety of sports conducted within the Shire. Gippsport has involved us with Activity Days for Special Schools within East Gippsland and Wellington Shires. Services: Providing Venue and Range Officers for firearms testing for Government Agencies and for the Deer Hunter’s Association {ADA}. 2008 – Victorian Teachers Games in Bairnsdale: EGB SSAA conducted a shooting event at Bairnsdale Pistol Club. East Gippsland Field Days: displaying activities, venues and work done by EGB to the general public as well as encouraging new memberships. These ran for at least 9 years until 2015. CPM Activities: • Parks Vic: ➢ Mitchell River National Park 2004 - 2005 ➢ Gippsland Lakes National Parks 2006 > ➢ Snowy River National Park 2007 > ➢ Providence Ponds State Game Reserve recent years

Trust for Nature: ➢ Constant work between Sale and Orbost on Private Properties pre 2010

Grants from various organisations, some multiple grants over a period of years for equipment, member’s health, Clydebank and Buchan ➢ East Gippsland Shire ➢ Victorian Health Department ➢ Department of Justice ➢ Wellington Shire ➢ Parks Vic