Saturday 31 July 2021 was a welcome opportunity to resume formal competition, after another painful period of restricted movement. 

Individual competition took place toward the 2021 club championship for each class, determined by the “best” 300 yds, 500 yds and 600 yds scores on the defined competition days. Series One is now complete, and Series Two will be slotted into the calendar after regional team events are concluded. 

One of East Central’s top shots, Des Coulter, is pictured at right after his shoot detail providing some advice on fine tuning a newer member’s Hunter/Sporter Class outfit. ECDRA is close to being able to field a team in regional competition in this class which is growing in popularity.

has been affected more than other club members by the turmoil of the Covid crisis. East Central’s tag is The Mountain Marksmen, but Des’s mountain (Mount Dandenong) was behind the “Ring of Steel” for way too long. Saturday’s shoot was the first opportunity he has had to contest a Club Competition this year.

They do say the tough get going when the going is tough, and Des put in the best F Open Class 500 yds score for the year so far (60-7). Congratulations to one of our keenest members.

Current leaders at each distance are:

F Open – 600 yds Terry Gee (60-4), 500 yds Des Coulter (60-7), 300 yds John Maccioni (60-7) out of 60-10 maximum. 
F Standard – 600 yds Rosco Davis (56-4), 500 yds Rosco Davis (59-3), 300 yds Roger Piggott (58-3) out of 60-10 maximum.
Hunter/Sporter – 600 yds Zac Economou (50-8), 500 yds Zac Economou (50-10), 300 yds Graeme Kerr (50-9) out of 50-10 maximum.

Shooters are reminded that next Saturday is the Pennant Final v Karramomus at Karramomus range. Covid rules are that spectators are not permitted, 10 shooters at a time on the mound is the maximum, and masks must be worn except when competing.

Readers are encouraged to check out the ECDRA Facebook page for information about the club and the sport. 

ECDRA RIFLE RANGE and Violet Town Shooting Complex Goals

Background

In 2015 the ECDRA was cash poor, with a strong (albeit ageing) pensioner membership. The membership profile meant that we were a strong shooting team, but desperately short of cash, able-bodied workers, and a forward-thinking mindset. The early steps to improve the facilities like the lining and insulation of the old club-house, the sun-shade in front, and the purchase and manufacture of the chronograph, were one, two, three or maybe four man individual projects both in money and physical effort.

ECDRA is anachronistic in that it is a VRA Association (like the GVDRA) with subordinate clubs, but in the particular case attrition has reduced the clubs to memberships of one or two with the clubs having no approved rifle range. In a sense ECDRA can be viewed as a club, even though it is not so in legal definition.

It was long recognised that it was imperative to improve basic facilities at Violet Town that were, simply put, of 3rd world standard. One of our senior members, the late Ian Williams of Euroa Rifle Club (ERC), ERC being a subordinate club of the ECDRA, released several thousand dollars of ERC funds that allowed us to build two important things:

Flushing toilets and running water, and,

100 yds zero, small bore and testing range forward of the 500 yds mound.

Concurrent with this activity, two important developments transpired, championed by our current President Rob Chaffe:

Government introduced a “generational” round of grants to the shooting sports, fortuitously coinciding with the development of Electronic Target Systems (ETS). ECDRA “dug deep” to obtain 2 lanes of the Hexta system, and most of the GVDRA plus Wangaratta RC introduced this ETS as well because of ECDRA’s leadership by Rob Chaffe and myself. The last club to do so was Katandra RC.

The Euroa Clay Target Club (ECTC), having lost their range and all its facilities (including club-house) due to urban encroachment, was successfully relocated to the Violet Town site on formal sub-lease to share the maintenance of the range. Their own funding via the grants broadened the backbone of the infrastructure at Violet Town.

The ETS was widely applauded, but was not without its problems. There were three very significant issues which prevented full benefit being realised. The problems were:

Few members had the basic computer literacy to operate the system (a function obviously of the age profile of the members). This problem essentially resolved itself as the age profile of the membership changed to include younger or professional persons.

No facilities existed for on-site charging of the computers, and even once facilities were established in the shipping container, the container in summer was too hot to charge these items without damage. The interim solution was to transport these items for a member’s residence shoot by shoot or suspend summer full-bore shooting, and the long term solution yet to be realised is more environmentally friendly facilities.

Lastly, the 2 lane ETS struggled to provide the throughput of shooters in the same way that a new freeway attracts traffic and ends up slower than the single carriageway it replaced. ECDRA Life Member Geoff James made a personal cash donation of $10,000 to purchase the 3rd lane of the ETS in 2017, which now enables efficient 3 range 30 person shoots to take place. 

In 2017, a senior club-member Ian Williams passed away, leaving the ERC with only one member, and after some administrative delays related to how the funds were invested, the funds were released to ECDRA for redevelopment of the Violet Town range. The ECDRA Committee resolved to use this $140,000 windfall to leverage an application for a further tranche of the shooting sports grants to bring Violet Town rifle range facilities up to contemporary expectations. This application was successful and $100,000 was offered and accepted subject to at least $50,000 cash contribution by ECDRA.

Aspirational goals

Aspirational goals are what ECDRA wants.

The project and the associated grant was framed on being consistent with a number of Government and societal objectives, in order to achieve likelihood of success, including:

Achieving equality of access for women, children and disabled persons etc. etc.

Enhancing the quality of life of older persons through participative sports.

Maintaining public safety.

Managing public lands with environmental sensitivity (which essentially means; plant natives, avoid tree removal and avoid erosion).

Of course, framing an application for bureaucratic approval and satisfying “club” needs can be different things, but we must achieve both. The ECDRA Committee had the following specific objectives as far as infrastructure at Violet Town rifle range was concerned (in no particular priority order):

Build a nice club-house that met real needs and contemporary expectations.

Create a shaded and dry work-space to maintain the ETS targets and other items.

Create a means to charge ETS items on site, in all seasons (noting that the Violet Town butts have flooded on more than one occasion, damaged targets, and present a formidable construction challenge to improve materially).

Renovate or renew the toilets to meet contemporary expectations which includes disabled (wheelchair) access.

Improve the track to 2WD all-weather standard, and protect it from flood damage and erosion.

Create safe parking areas so that 2WD vehicles may park safely (without damage by protruding rocks), and disabled persons may access all facilities from their vehicle (recognising of course that the 600 yds mound presents an almost insurmountable challenge).

Control fall hazards in the butts.

Control fall hazards at the 600 yds mound.

Create a rain and shade cover (carport) over the 600 yds mound.

Re-form of the shooting mounds to meet the highest expectations.

Financial constraints

The ECDRA Committee decided that for full-bore shooting, use of the ETS was an expectation rather than a bonus. Given that any form of insurance would be prohibitively expensive, it was essential that ECDRA quarantine funds to the extent that a catastrophic loss of the ETS due to fire/flood/theft could be overcome.  Such a failure without insurance would probably destroy the club.

The consequence of this decision was that the redevelopment budget is only; the $100,000 of the grant, plus about $75,000 of ECDRA funds, plus about $5,000 of ECTC funds, plus any “in kind” support ECDRA and ECTC members can muster

Planning approval

The Violet Town rifle range is a Crown Land Recreational Lease, and as a consequence the Planning Approval process performed by the Shire has a precursor land owner/manager approval (DELWP) which also includes, now, indigenous heritage “clearance”.

These agencies have been told that the scope of works for their consideration is:

Construction of a large shed.

Some earthworks for environmental improvement and safety.

Relocation of a number of shipping containers.

DELWP

Our project required some documents to be prepared some management plans to assure the Government agencies that ECDRA was a good tenant on the Crown Land. Presumably at some point DELWP will make a 2nd visit to assure themselves that no trees have been removed and some indigenous grasses have revegetated disturbed areas. 

Building approval and certification

After Planning Approval all permanent buildings must be certified as compliant with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). For homes this is colloquially referred to the terms Building Permit (intent) and the Certificate of Occupancy (compliance).

The contemporary process is that an independent certifier is engaged for this purpose.

The Building Permit will cover the construction of a basic, large shed.

There are a number of very good reasons to craft the scope of works “for certification” and these are:

It is unrealistic to fit any means of heating or cooling in “the shed” because doing so invokes “energy efficiency” requirements of the BCA, which in turn may escalate compliance costs (extra insulation or carbon renewable energy sources) and certification costs (doing the energy efficiency calculations).

It is unrealistic to line the shed because, whilst a triviality, the submission of a new set of structural calculations would be required with an attendant cost and delay.

It is unrealistic to construct an internal disabled toilet within the shed structure because that would comprise a new load on the existing septic layout, in turn invoking full compliance with contemporary standards with attendant delays, construction cost and evaluation cost (including soil testing).

Progress

Grant moneys

We have received approval to receive the first payment of $70,000. This should be in the bank shortly, subject to the usual Government delays.

Container moves

The containers are now all together in a “park” near the toilets. 

The ECDRA container (on the left) is nicely shaded by the ECTC 40’ one.

It would be useful if members with appropriate skills could reconnect the solar charging system for the current season.

Shed construction

We have contracted with Steeline (Shepparton) to supply and erect. A deposit has been paid. This includes the main slab, and the concrete paving of the verandah areas, so it is full “hands off” by members. Construction is expected to commence on or about 6 May 2019. The indicative cost is approximately $75,000 subject to some assumptions being valid.

The shed will be located approximately 5 m from our western boundary, to the South of the toilets. New member Glenn Chisholm is a professional surveyor, and has kindly offered to prepare a site plan and certified survey which will be a precondition of the Building Permit.

The shed will have “Paperbark” walls and a “Mangrove” roof, with “Mangrove” gutters.

2019 Spring Dragon Diesel Challenge

The Dragon Diesel Spring Challenge was held on October the 19th and as usual was a great day.  The very windy conditions and failing light made scoring quite difficult for all shooters confirmed by the  the low scores for the experienced top shooters. The smooth bore event completed the East Central District Rifle Association’s Dragon Diesel Spring Challenge and it was thought that the hunters may have an edge in the very difficult conditions but it was not so. 

It was a small margin but the ECDRA target rifle shooters despite using unfamiliar rifles and unfamiliar shooting positions won the day.

We would like to thank Dakin from Dragon Diesel Engineers who are co sponsors of the day providing the trophies and also to Joe Balls canvas who provides some very valuable prizes. for more information on these companies please have a look in our sponsors section and support those local Australian companies that support our sport.

McAuliffe Shield Round 3 2018 Pennant Season

The year is flying along and we have already completed the third round of the McAuliffe Shield Short Range Pennant Shoots, Shot over two ranges at 500 yards and one at 600 yards. This Saturday the 11 of May ECDRA traveled to the Shepparton / Nathalia range at Nathalia to contest the third round of the McAuliffe Shield against the Shepparton / Nathalia Gold Team.

It was along trip for Captain Neal Hambridge, involving over four hours traveling. Captain Neal mustered the ECDRA team and sorted the wind coaches with the instruction to do the very best you can. The Club shoot last week and the low scores in round 2 all conspired to keep the shooters and coaches focused as they dealt with a range many had not shot on before.

Above Paul Watkins Shooting a 59.5 on the Wednesday prior

Chase Hayes Long Range Pennant

Squalls disrupt the final Round of the Chase Hayes memorial pennant shoot. Rain and squalls with winds  over 35kph winds greeted the East Central District Rifle Association’s team and the teams from the  four other clubs as they gathered at Karramomus rifle range for the final stage of the Chase Hayes memorial shoot over 1000 yards  last Saturday. 

The weather was so bad that there was serious consideration of deferring the shoot.  The shooting program for most clubs is very full over the spring season and deferment was a very difficult option so instead the start was postponed.  Almost an hour and a half after the regular starting time it was decided that the weather was improving and the shoot got underway.   The coaches were frustrated as they tried to keep tabs on a wind that a variation of 1kph would result in a movement of up to 200 mm on the target.  With the wind swinging 90 degrees and gusting in strength more than 20 kph scores were never going to be high. The shooters had to do their best to keep the rifle dead still as the, now very cold, wind buffered them first one way then another.   Precision shooting under these conditions?

Captain Neal Hambridge reminded the ECDRA team that this was their chance to grab a podium finish on the day and improve their standing the Chas Hayes long range pennant. With the return of Graeme Kerr and having a full team, hopes were high until the first shots were fired. Then the reality of the challenge of the shoot hit home as the first shots for each of the shooters was more likely to be a miss than a hit.  

David Wallace posted the highest score for the ECDRA for the first stage with a  53.3   At least 5 points down on his usual performance.  Paul Watkins was the most unlucky as he hit some very difficult conditions.  The only comfort, and we use that term carefully, was that the other teams had similar score boards with Josh Weaire from Nagambie top scoring over all for the stage with a 57.4. Considering that National Team members were included in the shoot, and posting similar scores it confirms just how difficult the conditions were.

There was no time for a stop between stages and the shoot continued to ensure that it was complete before the light failed. With “improving” conditions the coaches jobs were not easier, however the scores improved ever so slightly. For the ECDRA David Wallace took the second stage with a 53.2 and Josh Wearie from Nagambie was top score again for the stage with 55.1.  

The final outcome of the Chase Hayes trophy is yet to be worked out as the scoring is not an easy job with many variables such as shooter class, grades and handicaps.

The Avenel shield was also finalised at this shoot and the results gives the Avenel Shield to Nagambie with 19 points followed by Shepparton / Nathalia 16, Karramomus 15, Katandra 12 and ECDRA 10.  Congratulations Nagambie as the Avenel Shield is an off-rifle completion with results corrected to allow for the variation in there different classes.  Nagambie has been consistently good all year and are deserving winners of the Avenel Shield.  This shield was donated to the Goulburn Valley precision long range target shooters by the Tehan family in the 1950’s for team shooting and has be recently revived by Graeme Kerr from the ECDRA into a trophy befitting the current styles and classes of team target shooting over ranges from 300 to 1000 yds.   

ECDRA 2019 Open Prize Meeting

The local East Central District Rifle association Inc. annual Easter Monday prize shoot was a great success attracting shooters from all over Victoria and New South Wales.  The shoot tops out a series of competitions that began with the Victorian Queen's prize series, followed by the Ovens and Murray Prize shoot and then the Wangaratta Prize shoot.

Captain Neal Hambridge took the prime responsibility of Range Officer for the first time and was rewarded with many compliments about the shoot from the visitors before they headed home.

The ECDRA prize shoot is regarded as almost a family affair as shooters who only see each other once a year relax for a day of friendly competition.  The good attendance ensured that all three targets were used to their capacity to get the three stages of the shoot over with enough time for the presentations then to get the shooters on their way home before dark.  The travel time is quite an issue with the build up of traffic on the roads over Easter.  

The shoot began with two stages at 500 yards followed by one stage at 600 yards with 10 scoring shots to count at each stage. After the first shooters left the mound it was clear this was going to be a high scoring match as the board rapidly filled with maximum scores of just one or two points down.  As the final stage at 600yds got underway Graeme Kerr said to Rob Chaffe “Have a look at that, 60s everywhere, we have not seen that for a long time”.     He was right and so the match was going to be decided on the numbers of centrals or super centrals, the score you get when your shot lands in a target area half the diameter of the maximum scoring zone. Graeme spoke a little early,  out of nowhere the Violet Town wind picked up and suddenly there were call “where did that wind come from” so the match was really on.

There were eight shooters who had the maximum score at the start of 600 and very soon every one had dropped a point. That is how the shoot finished with those eight just one point down for the whole match. 

Shooters to the mound at 600 yds for the final stage of the ECDRA Easter Monday Prize shoot.  Captain and Range Officer  Neal Hambridge is the one with the fluorescent orange vest in the middle of the picture. Terry Gee the ECDRA prize winner is the shooter that can be seen on the far right.  The limp red flag shows the wind at its lightest and it was this wind that picked up and then dropped again in a few seconds that caught out all the shooters.