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Silverdale Range for Benchrest

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Last post
LJ Fraser
Silverdale Range for Benchrest

Shoots at Silverdale are finished due to entry numbers the Executive have sought to put a minimum number of shooters to have access to the range so after looking at the past 5 years excluding the WBC and Nationals these numbers have not even been close.

Just so there is no miss understanding about what has transpired here are the replies from our Chairman Mr Billinghurst and Mr Walsh President SSAA Sydney Branch.

David Billinghurst
Dec 14 (6 days ago)

to me, Andrew, James, Steve
Hi Les,

You seem to have misread the email it only refers to Silverdale Range

This was a commercial decision by the SSAA Sydney Branch Inc. Committee which has paid staff at Silverdale

Silverdale is the Branch’s Main Outdoor Range and has to Service over 30000 Branch Members, so a decision to put the Number of Benchrest Shooters required to close the range, I feel a responsible decision by the Committee

Remember when there is a Registered Benchrest Competition on the Range no other shooting can take place

I would hope this clears up your questions

Cheers

James Walsh
Dec 14 (6 days ago)

to David, me, Andrew, Steve
Hi Les

Sydney Branch can’t keep closing the entire range for a small number of shooters. We’ve tried for years to encourage the Benchrest group to grow it’s numbers and as you would be aware, we were happy to meet and try whatever the group suggested, and it resulted in 19 shooters.

Instead of the constant complaints as to why people don’t shoot at Silverdale, perhaps it is time that the group rally behind the discipline in order to keep it alive. The fact is, 30 shooters is not a huge number of attendees. It is the opinion of the Committee of the Branch that if the Benchresters truly want discipline to grow, that ensuring there are 30 shooters present is a small task – it also allows us to appease our membership who complain when the entire range is closed and they are locked out because of a very small number of shooters.

Regards

James

robbycar
robbycar's picture
I dont understand

If it is a commercial decision, then I would have thought it would be easy to find other money making activities to supplement the income. There are enough smart people on the committee that this should be easy to address.

The canteen is large enough that it could be used for lots of other things without interfering with the match.

Here are a few things that come to mind, I am sure others could come up with lots of other ideas.

Handloading course
Deer course
Swap meet
Pistol club shoot
Silhouette shoot
Discount firearm transfer day

And even maintenance to buildings, roads, shower blocks etc. The step to the shower block has been broken for 6 months that I know of and I know it is on the list of repairs needed. Someone is going to have an accident if this is not fixed.

If all else fails, can we rent the range for the weekend? Then we can arrange moneymaking activities to cover the costs.

Rob.

BB Administrator

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Silverdale

Good one Rob. Always thinking outside the box.

wazza
wazza's picture
Rob

you cannot for the simple reason of safety have other shooting on that range it CANNOT be done
but you could do the others you spoke of including the shop it could have much more if you were
inclined.

Barry

robbycar
robbycar's picture
Cant see why not

We could have 7 minute pistol relays or silhouette on the pistol range and fit in around our cease fires.

Easy!

Rob

BB Administrator

Elantra
Elantra's picture
Commercial decisions

What a coincidence .I posed the same question to Rod Shannon of SSAA Brisbane recently .I got the same reply ,they lose to much money when they stage a state or national rimefire benchrest event for 30 shooters
There is no point protesting .He did offer a good suggestion ,get the nearby SSAA clubs to stage theses events If that is done then some of the $$$$'s is given to the outer clubs who stage these events ,,,Rod

Pigshit22
Elantra
Elantra's picture
Commercial decisions

It was my suggestion that some money be given to the outer clubs ,not Rod Shannon's I dont want Rod Shannon being falsely accused ....Rod

Pigshit22
craig
craig's picture
What a shame.

Correct me if I am wrong if it wasn't for benchrest shooter's Silverdale rifle range would still be the same shit hole it was when I first visited 15 years ago, instead now it has fantastic facilities and is a world class benchrest range. Thanks SSAA for putting money ahead of why SSAA was started for way back when competition shooters started all these ranges. Sad way for such a great range to die.

wazza
wazza's picture
Craig

Mate the place was a tip no joke, but the Committee I worked for had a pride that today shines in the way that range looks today
We spent tons of money to have a standard that is world class today but unfortunately things have changed with a new committee even to the stage of dumping Carnell from Sydney branch a bloody disgrace
To say the least

Barry

muz
easy to solve

It is one thing to say we can't get the numbers, it is another thing to put people in place who go out of their way to make the shooters who do make the effort to attend feel unwelcome when they do attend matches.

You can't have it both ways...either the committee want benchrest there or they don't, but don't say one thing and then do the opposite.

Whilst the shooters are like a family, if the people who are paid employees go out of their way to make people unwelcome, what do you expect?

The last time I was there we had Australian team members from QLD come down for a State Titles, before traveling to the WBC and all we did was cop derogatory comments all weekend from one particular staff member.

Why would anyone want to spend a weekend away at a match with that crap going on...The QLD shooters vowed never to come back and I can completely understand why.

Cheers

Muz

dazparsons
Muz, I also think that if

Muz, I also think that if there are paid employees who are going to lengths to make certain disciplines feel unwelcome and not promoting the shooting sports in general (including bench rest) then the people who employed that individual need to have a good, hard look at themselves. It's already bad enough having to cop flak from the anti shooting fraternity because one enjoys the shooting sports, without copping more from within our own ranks because of the discipline we choose to participate in.
Merry Xmas

LJ Fraser
silverdale

After reading all the comments, it is true there has been a lot of issues surrounding the Silverdale range but until the shooters themselves take stock of how the range is being managed and actually do something about it will always be the same. Issues will keep happening, we haven't been represented by our chairman in fact he has been telling us one thing and then SSAA Sydney branch another and vise versa.

If an employee is making unsolicited comments and making it hard for Benchrest shooters then why are you not challenging him. Don't sit back and allow a bully that has power over individuals because he or she doesn't. Write a letter to the board CC all the members of the SSAA Sydney Branch, NSW and National Committees, their names are found on the internet so start using the power of support to stop this nonsense.

When you do write letters of complaint always include names dates places and events, email exchanges witnesses etc are also very good support for the context of your letter. If we all stood up and were counted on, Silverdale would not now be taken from us. To have a minimum number of shooters listed at thirty for bench rest it must be across the board so any event at the Silverdale Range will have to have a minimum number of 30 otherwise i as a benchrest shooter feel singled out by this restriction and therefore would be a more significant issue of discrimination as a discipline.

I am sure that readers of this forum have other shooters in their address book on their phones emails etc, so send them messages make them aware of what is going on and it could happen to them and their discipline.

Always remember a Committee is elected by the members so the members are the drivers of what the committee does. Ask for the financial balance sheet for the Silverdale range. It has been stated by Mr Walsh this is a commercial decision if this is the case then the 4 times per year the range is closed for a recognized registered match is putting Silverdale in the red then his comment is legitimate however if it is a usage position actually how many members are aggrieved they cannot use the range for 4 times per year even though they can enter the match and shoot so the range isn't actually closed to the public.

As shooters, it is time to put up or shut up, the real questions need to be answered which are, who arrived at the minimum number of 30 when the last shoot organised predominately by Keith yielded more shooters than shoots organised by the current chairman and as was seen earlier the current chairman provided mistruths to the shooters about SSAA wanting us off the range, Mr Walshes email supported the growth of benchrest at Silverdale. So what changed from their letters to the current situation nothing other than certain persons own agenda's.

Wake up shooters and don't let this happen as members of the SSAA you all have a vested interest in getting registered matches at SSAA ranges otherwise all that is created is a money wheel for a shooter of any discipline to come set a beer box up with a permanent marking dot and shoot off a couple of packets of ammo so he can hold his licence.

The Shooting decline over every discipline in the country is all about how that sport is marketed, if we sit back and let this one go through to the keeper and say it is just too hard then the beer box fraternity will never really know the excitement of competition or enjoy the company of mates and new friends along the journey of competition.

BigStick
BigStick's picture
Ranges

I've only been shooting competition about 15 years and don't know the whole history of the ranges, but it is my understanding that competition shooters built the ranges. Correct me if I'm wrong. Now to close the range to competition because there are not enough shooters to make it viable seems ludicrous.
Kim

wally289
wally289's picture
Silverdale

Hi I am not sure what is going on down there but I do know that if the committee cared on like that here then they would not be there for long something would be done members vote them in they can be voted out as for an employee doing and saying things and the very people who employ him or her sack them it’s a job they have its not there right it’s a job do the job and keep your comments to yourself this forum is saying this and that I for one have never been to this range and from what I have herd never wish to I am just starting out in bench rest and seeing all this shit about one range is unreal don’t all ranges come under the watch of the state and national board if so then step in and fix it if it’s a case of money and 8 odd days out of 364 days I cannot see this breaking any club it’s all just a money grab yes I grant you Sydney is a big place and I do not know the problems of this then the range in question must be massive the way all are talking put in barriers shit there are more than one way to fix a very small problem which has blown out of all proportions this does not look good from a new shooters point of view send the shoot off to a smiler club help them get set up to hold these shoots I am sure they would welcome it as instead of losing money they would be making it there for better facilities and more places to shoot the way I look at things is it adds verity speeds the money round and then you may get the interest you are looking for as I know I for one would not travel to Sydney for a shoot far too expensive for one and take a look at your nomination fees as well why are they so expensive is it to keep away shooters that are on a tight budget look at all of it closely is all I say stop the arguing and sack the person and get another I am sure there is plenty who will step up for the job

Wombat

Ghansen
Silverdale Range for Benchrest

As a matter of perspective am I correct that the range is closed every third Sunday of each month, and that advantage could or should be taken of an overlap of those days?

I hope all options would be considered before jumping out of the arena and losing a first rate venue, a base of great expertise with the potential to modulate greater numbers and lastly to restore the faith of the executive in precision shooting.

Best of the season to you all,

Geoff

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