Page 20 - Sporting Clays Australia - August 2020

TASMANIAN
FIELD AND GAME ASSOCIATION
Well here we are sitting and looking back at what has unfolded over the last six months still trying to comprehend what has happened. For the whole community, the issues that have arisen over the Covid-19 outbreak have been beyond comprehension. The e ect that this has had and continue to have will be felt for a long time yet.
Here in Tasmania we were insulated initially, looking on in amazement at what was unfolding in China, Iran, and Italy, but once the outbreak hit here it was game on. The State Government implemented the toughest border restrictions in Australia at the time, forcing all arrivals into a 14-day quarantine. A spike in infections happened o the back of the cruise ship debacle. This then had the e ect of further community transmissions causing the shutdown of two community hospitals on the North West coast. The NW region was then in e ect shut down, with restrictions on travel into and out of the region until the outbreak was brought under control.
As was the case with other states, recreational sports were shut down overnight.
The clubs and members here did not dispute the process that the State Government took to enable the issue to be managed. To give credit, the government kept all sporting bodies well informed and assisted where possible for clubs to meet the guidelines and prepare in readiness for a return to shooting. They provided weekly updates and answered any questions raised in a timely manner. A very big thank you to them for their assistance.
For sporting clays shooters, it was a shock to not be able to go out and shoot a few clays with friends. People kept in touch by social media and phone calls which was positive, especially given the time from the last shoot was held. Clubs had to reassess how they would hold shoots, as the initial return to sport (shooting) guidelines limited numbers and had explicit conditions applied. Some people were saying that “this is too hard”, but by working together and coming up with ideas and supporting each other we have now got back to what everyone wanted, shooting clays again.
As there are only three clubs in the state, it was extremely pleasing to see members from the other two attend the State Qualifying shoot held last weekend at Penguin. The targets were “interesting” as one person commented, and as scores re ected not easy. It would be great to see shooters support all
the clubs wherever possible. An hour or two to travel is nothing, especially to support the clubs now we are able to shoot again.
In closing, I would like to give a shout out to our tireless state secretary Graeme Witchard for the time and e ort that he has provided through these di cult times. Whenever any of you shooters out there see him, give him a pat on the back and thank him for what he has done.
All the best and we will see you around the ranges.
Gary Harper President/TFGA
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Sporting Clays Australia Assoc. - August 2020
TASMANIA