We have seen some very good attendances over recent weeks but I suspect that this will now slow down due to the hideous price being charged for fuel at present. 

The increased cost of fuel has added at least 30% to the cost of a tank of fuel - in my case, the last tank of fuel cost $60 more than the previous tank as the service station I was buying at stopped the significant discounts previously given and raised their prices increasing the price of unleaded by $1 per litre.

We have now completed the assembly of the new steel frame for the Compressor shed - the old one is totally destroyed by termites and is in danger of collapsing - ready for a working bee on 2nd & 3rd May to dismantle what is left of the old shed and erect and clad the new steel shed to a minimum lock up stage and hopefully, have the compressor re-commissioned so the turning targets will be again operational the following week.

​On behalf of the Committee, I wish all reading our blog a very happy Easter.

The Club is enjoying far better attendances in recent weeks and there has been an influx of membership enquiries with only a very few of these prompted by the new gun laws.

Next weekend is a working bee commencing at 9am to prepare for the February 2026 ISSF Open the following weekend.

Entries close tonight with numbers down slightly on previous events but still quite adequate to run a successful event.

​Squadding should be emailed out by Thursday night to arrive in plenty of time for thos travelling early next week.

The new year has started well with very good attendances in spite of the heat we are experiencing.

We had a total of sixteen matches contested over the day yesterday over 5 different matches which was very pleasing to see.

So far this month, We have gained one new member as a transfer in and we now have 6 potential new members considering joining - with the later group possibly influenced by the December 2025 Gun Laws introduced by the NSW Government- pleasingly, they all wish to join as both target rifle and target pistol shooters.

The club hosts the first of two ISSF Open events for the year next month and entries to date are very encouraging for a healthy entry list for the event with another 3 weeks remaining until entries close.

All in all, a very healthy and promising start to 2026- the best start to a new year in the past 30 odd years history of the Club.

Very Happy with the turnout yesterday for the first competition day of the new year with 8 members attending including a new member transferring in from Guyra Club.

A total of 15 Matches were contested on the day - even though the weather was not conducive to being out on the range in the sun.

Scheduled matches of the day next Saturday are Standard Pistol and Air Pistol with Standard Pistol to commence at 1 pm sharp.

The Club held its final competition for 2025 on 20/12/2025 and will now close to competition reopening for competition on 10/1/2026
We had a total of ten matches contested yesterday including a supervised match by new member, Andy, who impressed considering it was only the second time he had used a pistol.

As licenced NSW Firearms owners, we all face an uncertain future with the Minns Labor Government intent on forcing through more heavily restricting Firearms laws as a result of A "KNEE JERK REACTION" to the Terror Attack in Bondi last weekend.
The architect of the present "Uniform" Legislation (John Howard) has stated several times in the last week that the existing laws do not need to be changed, they simply need to be enforced and the hysteria surrounding the terror attack and the failings of various agencies in recognising the Terror Threat should not be used as a catalyst for stripping responsible gun owners of their equipment or genuine reasons to own rifles for Recreational Hunting and Vermon Control.
Lets hope sanity prevails.
One thought that I have had over the last 24 hours is that we have seen how the numbers of Feral Animals exploded after the 1997 Firearms restrictions were introduced and continue to do so. 
God help us if Recreational Hunting (as a genuine reason) is taken away from all responsible Recreational Hunters of this state.

Apart from the total destruction of crops, there will be a significant increase again in crashes involving animal strikes on our roads and it will only be a matter of time before there will be a loss of a human life through these accidents. 

THE COMMENTS EXPRESSED REGARDING THE PROPOSED CHANGE OF GUN LAWS ARE THE THOUGHTS OF THE AUTHOR - NOT OF THE EXECUTIVE OF THE PISTOL CLUB

Great turnout last Saturday with a total of 15 matches contested during the day after a Special Committee Meeting held to reconsider an NSWAPA Motion on Notice.

Another big day yesterday with the 40 foot shipping container that has been sitting in the bottom end of the carpark taking up space for about the last 8 or 10 years relocated by Jay Weir and his mighty crane to its permanent position below Range one and near the air compressor shed.

The slope of the ground near the final location caused some concern with the crane reaching maximum tilt angle before the container was finally in place but that difficulty was finally overcome.

A little more work on Saturday to create a permanent ramp access at the front and the container will again be operational as a valuable storage unit again.

With working bees held over the last two weekends, the facilities are all now looking good for the September ISSF Open incorporating the New England and North West Zone Championships commencing tomorrow (19/9/2025).
We received 41 entries and apologies from some 8 or 9 regulars who could not attend this event but unfortunately, 2 entrants have withdrawn following a minor accident between a roadside sign post and the side of their caravan.
Air Pistol and 50 metre Targets were labelled and delivered yesterday and a good supply of 25 metre targets are now mounted ready for the start of the competition tomorrow at 3 pm.

Hopefully, the wet weather predicted for tomorrow will not eventuate and the weather remains fine until Monday.

Only three matches contested yesterday as the main focus was on preparation of facilities in preparation for our Open and Zone Championships on 19-21st September.
The fire risk was significantly reduced with all the fallen foliage around the car park and air range raked up and burnt (with the appropriate fire permit).
The car parks, range 3 and the road in were also mowed and these areas are now looking much tidier and presentable.

Two new members  (one a returning member) joined the club during the day and a further membership was passed in our monthly meeting for a gentleman who is in the the process of gaining personal references to complete his paperwork.

The future of the Club is again looking good membership wise.

Entries are still coming in for the Open event (entries close next Tuesday) and the Open is again looking very healthy with the number of entries and the number of matches being contested.

It is worth mentioning that twelve of the entries received are all from  members of Wyong District Pistol Club.

Another small attendance last Saturday but with 2 potential new members in attendance and a further new member in the pipeline.

We also met out new neighbours who have kindly agreed to sign a Permissive Shooting Rights Letter to avoid any issues with continuation of our Operating Licence following the recent sale of that neighbouring block.

A working Bee to prepare for the September Open is planned for next Saturday along with a Committee Meeting as 4 of the Committee will be away the following weekend when the working Bee and Meeting were originally scheduled.

​Hopefully, we will have a reasonable turnout to enable all the sticks etc in the carpark and up around the air range can be raked jup and burnt to reduce fire hazard as well as any mowing and other tidying up work completed.

There has not been a lot of shooting activity at the club over the last few due to torrential rain all day 26th July, a bitterly cold day and snow on 2nd August followed by a two day working bee on 9th and 10th August to clear several dangerous trees with a brief break on 9th for the Club to hold its AGM.

Essentially, the same committee was re-elected for a further 12 months.

There was a return to shooting last weekend with 4 members contesting the WA1500 x 48 shot match (some twice) before lunch and three members then contesting a Centre Fire/Sport Pistol Match after Lunch while several members continued the clean up of downed trees.

Results for the WA1500 matches have been published on the results page with the Centre Fire/Sport Pistol Matches to be published when results are received 

Standard Pistol is the match of the day next Saturday once the last of the fallen tress have been removed from the carpark with the aide of a tractor and front end loader.

Entries are rolling in very well for our September Open with 22 now received and quite a number of people saying their entries will be lodged in the next few days.