Shooting club keen to meet members

THE founders of an emerging clay target shooting club are aiming to build their numbers and introduce themselves to the community with their first general meeting later this month.

Following their initial meetup in late March, the team behind the Rokewood-based club will hold the event at their intended future home of operations at the Rokewood Golf Club.

The group’s president Sam Madden said the idea emerged as a way of saving the golf club while offering something new to the community.

“They were going to fold, and when I was away in the Mallee, the golf club up there merged with the gun club when they were about to shut down,” he said.

“The gun club was very successful with 100-something members. They got grants, built another shed and really did a lot for the golf club so I thought that’s a way to save it.

“We haven’t really got a lot out here either. If you don’t like playing football or golf, there’s nothing else to do here but go to the pub.

“There’s a lot of farmers out in Rokewood with young kids that are into clay shooting and we’ve got to travel a long way.”

Mr Madden said once up and running, their aim will be to share the grounds and clubhouse with the established golf club, with both competitions and practices to be held once a month.

The event will include a barbecue meet and greet, as well as a fundraiser and raffle prizes provided by sponsors.

Club secretary Brian Vincent said the meeting will help gauge their direction going forward.

“We want to get down in writing how many people are interested,” he said.

“We’re not going to be taking memberships as such but we’re going to be getting nominations from people who would be interested for when it gets to the point we can actually hold some shoots.

“We’ve touched base with council and the Victorian Clay Target Association. It’s very early days and we’re in the process of getting the things together that we need to do.”

The Rokewood Clay Target Club’s first general meeting is set to take place on Thursday, 27 April at 6pm.

Those wishing to express interest earlier can do so via the group’s Facebook page.