news

April 5, 2012

NEWSLETTER APRIL 2012

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN

The 2012 shooting season has started at a frantic pace and no doubt you are as surprised as me to see that we are a quarter of the way onto the year already. All clubs will have started their 2012 program by now and we have conducted several Prize meetings, held two Executive and Council Meetings, progressed with Pinjar and have made staffing changes at the WARA office.

COMPETITION TO DATE

The DRA Program began with the Albany Club and Great Southern Districts PM in Albany in January, while the temperature was mild when compared to the baking that Perth received; the conditions were trying and windy. The program was extended to a four day competition due to the Australia Day Thursday Public Holiday that was enjoyed by 96 shooters. In a first for District Programs the newly acquired WARA E-Targets were hired out to the district to enable the full program to be conducted on electronic targets. This was a resounding success and enabled smooth running of the entire program of four ranges per day over ten targets. Robert Cuthbert was the TR winner with Bill Hallam taking out F-Standard and including F-TR in the F-Open division for the first time in competition. We hope to see an increase in opportunities for this division in time.

The MDRA Prize Meeting was held in March on the Swanbourne Range with 60 competitors lining up at the start. Once again mild temperatures were coupled with challenging wind conditions that saw lead changes and close results. In the end Gerry Austgen took out the TR competition while Bill Hallam was successful in F Std and there were also a small number of F-TR/ F- Open competitors in the mix. This weekend we will be going to Coolilup for the Easter SWDRA PM where we hope the mild Autumn conditions will persist for another weekend. Good luck to all those who will be in attendance.

MEMBERSHIP

Early indications are that Membership numbers are remaining steady overall with some clubs experiencing increased numbers due to active acquisition and retention programs. We are hopeful that this trend will continue to expand across most clubs as the year progresses. We have noticed a shift in average age which has meant we are unable to field Under 25 Competitors or teams and will need to address this actively at all levels in the drive for increased membership. WARA affiliation fees have increased this year in part due to the recognition that the movement has progressed into a new phase of operation and requires independence and financial planning to succeed and to provide for a suitable development fund for our future.

WARA – WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP MEAN

With this in mind it is a suitable time to reflect on what the WARA does for its membership and what is on offer for you as a shooter. The primary aim of the association is:

To promote excellence in the international sport of full-bore target shooting, whilst encouraging the inclusive participation of competitors regardless of age, gender, experience or skill and educating people in the safe handling and responsible use of firearms.

To this end the WARA provides Coaching Instruction, Development Programs and High Performance Squad Training to enable an international level to be reached by any shooter who wishes to pursue this path. As a result we had a contingent of strong Open TR shooters who competed in National Teams events in Brisbane in October last year at the World Long Range Championships and Australia Match with some pleasing team and individual results. This year will see our State Open Team competing in SA in October. WA Shooters have also been selected to fill National positions. Congratulations toMiriam Lang( Albany ) who has been selected for the ladies team to South Africa in May 2013 and also to Linda Shehan (Wurgabup) who has been appointed Captain of the Australian F-Class Rifle Team that will be heading to Raton, New Mexico in 2013 to contest the World F-Class Championships. The WARA also supports state Ladies, Veterans, U25 and F Class teams in their endeavours each year. This year the Veterans National Competition will be hosted by WA prior to the running of our annual Queens Prize.

With the move to E-targets WA has taken the lead once more and late last year the WARA purchased four targets, a suitably modified trailer and a series of monitors, electronic attachments, cabling, centres and masks to enable all DRA’s the opportunity to conduct prize meetings with electronic targets. The package was tested at Albany with great success in January and will travel to Coolilup and Wurgabup in April.

The WARA maintains a data base for results and averages and to collate all membership information. Steve Jenkin will be more than happy to ensure all details are up to date. Please advise any changes to individual member or to club contact details to Steve as soon as possible to ensure the appropriate flow of information occurs. Using this data base the WARA also provides information, key notifications and relays any pertinent information channelled for the National Body, the NRAA. Our website provides this information as it comes to hand for all to access.

WARA staff members include the following. Tony and Anna Whittemore together manage the shop and stock a full range of items for the keen competitor at all levels of competition. Anna also handles the accounts and skilfully juggles the finances on a weekly basis providing assistance to the Treasurer and Council as required. Recently appointed Steve Jenkin has taken the role of Executive Officer and also taken on the associated Range Liaison responsibilities. He is full time and available Monday to Friday to handle your needs. At the same time we bid a fond farewell from the administrative side to Michael Farrell who was a regular fixture at the WARA office for the last 7 years. Mike together with wife Donna have been committed to the movement in their ongoing assistance and in particular in relation to the administration of our major event each year, the Queens Prize series of competition. We also farewell John Fairbairn who exits from the role of Range Liaison Officer as he gradually hands the controls over to Steve Jenkin. We thank John for his dedication and attention to all matters related to our 70 or so ranges around the state. Any ongoing range matters should be addressed to Steve in the first place for him to refer to others as required.

PINJAR DEVELOPMENTS

The WARA is continuing the processes of negotiation, planning and design for the new home of the shooting movement at Pinjar, north east or Perth. A detailed report was provided earlier in March and is available for all members to access via our website. Current developments pending confirmation include signing of the final Lease Document, receipt of Clearing Permit from the Commonwealth DEC, approval of the Firing Rites over the adjacent Commonwealth bombing range, application for building approval and confirmation from DSR of the availability of funding for the construction phase to begin.

The WARA has provided opportunities for all members to be involved in the Pinjar Development Project from the beginning with Focus Groups established in Feb 2011 that allow all districts to have an input at each stage. To continue with this process the DRA contacts have received invitations to attend a workshop on the 29^th April at Swanbourne. The designated contacts have received documentation regarding costing for both the initial construction and the ongoing maintenance of the proposed facility to allow all members to review the plan and the proposed costs and to have the ability to voice their opinion regarding these current and future developments. It is imperative that all Districts ensure representation at the April workshop as endorsement will be sought for the proposals or optional proposals put forward at the meeting. In addition to the documents supplied with the invitation, the Treasurer, Peter Sproule and the Project Engineer, John Harding, will provide additional detailed documentation to allow full assessment of both the range design and the initial and ongoing costs analysis. We look forward to your attendance on the day.

Yours in Shooting,

Mary Brown

Chairman,

WARA (Inc)

FROM THE OFFICE

Welcome back to another excellent shooting year!

The WARA Shop is manned on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday by Tony and Anna Whittemore.

Hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Sat. only: 11.00 am to 5.00 pm

The WARA Office will be open Monday to Friday by Stephen Jenkin, 8.00am to 4.00pm

A special congratulation to GSDRA – Wurgabup Club – Linda Shehan who has been officially appointed to the role of National F Class Captain for 2013: Below is the excerpt from the NRAA Website:

From NRAA Newsletter #35

NRAA F CLASS Good Will Team, Stars and Stripes Match 2012.

The NRAA are pleased to announce our support for the members travelling to Raton this year under the Captaincy of Linda Shehan.

Australian F Class Rifle Team, Raton 2013.

The NRAA are pleased to announce the appointment of Linda Shehan as Captain for the F Class Open and F T/R teams. Linda will be appointing a vice captain to assist her in the task of leading Australia to victory. The official Team will be announced in the upcoming month.

Fees for 2012/2013

WARA membership $100.00

NRAA membership $40.00

Optional ATR Magazine $37.00

Under 21 NRAA Membership $20.00

E-mail addresses

If you have a contact email address, please advise your Club Secretary to notify us of it. If you change your provider - we also need to know, as mail will be undeliverable otherwise.

FROM THE SHOP

Welcome back to a new year of shooting.

FROM THE SHOP

Welcome back to a new year of shooting. Ammunition and Projectile prices

From March 1st

Ammunition

155g $1.10 per round with Sierra or HBC projectile

69g .90 per round

Projectiles

HBC

155g .36c each

Sierra

69g .30c “

80g .40c “

107g .38c “

174g .48c “

Amax

80g .29c “

Nosler

80g .25c “

155g .28c “

Hornady

174g .45c “

Barrels

In Stock

Kerieger .223 & .308 - $570.00 each

Maddco - $630.00

We also now have access to Border and Archer barrels.

Serviceability Certificates

Please be aware that there is a three month expiry date on these certificates. Once a certificate expires a new one will be needed ($20.00) before you can apply for a Firearms Licence. If a licence hasn’t been issued in three months as a result of an expired certificate, you will be charged $20.00 per month storage fee on the rifle purchased, till a FAL is issued.

Warehouseman Licence

Members rifles may be temporarily stored in the WARA magazine, eg while you go on holidays – cost $20.00 per rifle per month.

For Sale (Second-hand)

Rifles

Omark DH774 - .308 with rear sight - $400.00

Omark DB872 - .308 - $300.00

Lee Enfield No4 Conversion B015238 .308 - $350.00

Angel AA382 - .308 with sight and extra barrel - $2500.00

Angel 80 AA346 - .308 with TMac sight, S/s barrel approx 2500 rds - $2500.00

RPA - 2782 - .308 excellent condition - $3300.00

Other

Centra Offset Rear Sight – redirects sight picture 65mm to better eye - $280.00