news, education,

REDUCING the risks and staying safe are key components of any school sporting activity. But even more so when guns are involved. About 120 students took part in the interschool shooting competition held at the Wodonga range earlier this month. Students from Catholic College Wodonga, Wodonga Middle Years College, Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Beechworth, Tallangatta, Corryong, Victory Lutheran College, St Paul's College, Walla, The Scots School Albury and Corowa High School joined the event’s 11th year. Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Wodonga ran the program of clay target shooting, rifle shooting and biathlon assisted by Wodonga Albury Field and Game. SSAA Wodonga committee member Max Grimshaw said two earlier grading days in August sorted the competitors into A and B grade. All the students, both boys and girls from years 7 to 12, have their junior shooting licences or the NSW equivalent. “There’s an interest out there,” Mr Grimshaw said. “I think there always has been an interest among kids, particularly from the country schools. “We do our best to give them an experience that is enjoyable and rewarding. “It’s certainly a safe experience. “We go to great lengths to make sure the risk is absolutely as close to zero as we can possibly get it.” Olympian James Willett competed when a school student while coach Graeme Boyd and Wodonga’s Cherie Blake, a winner at the Bianchi Cup in the US in June, have helped out at the event. Mr Grimshaw said about 30 volunteers gave their time to assist on the day. “The teachers do a lot of work in the background to get kids there and together we make it happen,” he said. Corowa High School teacher Bryon Adamson said about 10 students at his school did clay target shooting for their weekly sport each Wednesday. “We vet all our students before they do it,” he said. “We don’t take anyone whose behaviour’s not good. “Our counsellor also has a say.” Many of the shooters had a farming background, with parents and members of the public coming to help each week. “We’ve got a good relationship with the local community,” Mr Adamson said. “A lot of my students have their own shotgun so the parents have to bring the shotgun to sport.” The teacher said the school activity had been going for more than 10 years and students enjoyed shooting the clay targets. “It’s a great sport, it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s getting more and more popular, more schools are getting involved.”

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/zVtrQGhRGBmiD3RNa8bKgt/ec076615-08c1-4c34-b53d-db1261179748.JPG/r0_68_3976_2314_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg