Bairnsdale Field and Game will receive $300,000 to improve facilities and expand on current shooting disciplines, including a new International Olympic Trap layout, if the Nationals form Government in November.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, was delighted to be on site to make the announcement, while watching a number of locals show their prowess at the practice shoot.

“Bairnsdale Field and Game has one of the largest membership bases in the state, and we should be proud of how the club continues to support and develop local athletes to participate both at the grassroots and elite levels,” Mr Bull said.

“We have several extremely promising athletes who compete at the state, national and international levels. Construction of this layout will create additional pathways from grassroot participation to elite level.

“Interestingly, country shooters make up the majority of shooters who qualify for selection in both National Shooting teams. It makes no sense having to force talented rural and regional athletes to travel to Melbourne in order to train and compete.

“The Olympic Trap layout will also enable Bairnsdale to host a broader competition catalogue with the capacity to host additional major events and conduct training camps with the potential to attract participants from all across the state and nation, which will provide a welcomed economic boost to East Gippsland as an added benefit.”

Mr Bull said that the inclusion of the layout has been lobbied for strongly for several years now, and he is pleased to be able to make this pre-election commitment which will provide more opportunities and enjoyment for shooters in East Gippsland.

“The committee and members are motivated to also install solar panels and batteries to fully transition away from diesel power generators to becoming a fully sustainable club and this will be part of the works as well,” Mr Bull said.

President of the Bairnsdale Field and Game, Dave Jones, said this funding will be a game changer for members and others wanting to pursue progression to Olympic Trap.
“We’ve got so much talent in East Gippsland, we’ve proven that. But they’ve had no option to train without driving to Melbourne. With the Commonwealth Games Trap venue in Gippsland, we might see an East Gippslander get a chance at a team place now,” Mr Jones said.