West Australian Rifle Association Inc. - WARA

04/06/2026

Beverley Rifle Club shoot - 21st June

04/06/2026

It’s nearly that time again for our Annual Shoot , 18th -19th July 😊
For catering purposes a gentle reminder to please let us know if you will be attending our shoot ,thank you to all who have already .

See you soon 😊😊😊😊

29/05/2026

11/05/2026

The West Australian Rifle Association History 1914 to 1940
Part 6: The last Kalgoorlie King’s PM

The 1921 calendar year saw a number of post war challenges become evident. The Eastern District Union prize meeting, held at Beverley owing to the Northam range being unavailable, was constrained with the mounds exceedingly cramped for the three targets that were available.

The Central District Union prize meeting was poorly attended despite over £40 in prize money ($2,800) and many trophies being offered. It was thought that shooters had held off attending because the King’s PM was to be held in Kalgoorlie two weeks later. It must remembered that many shooters did not own vehicles and relied on public transport. The train from Perth to Kalgoorlie took up to 14 hours.

The minutes provide an insight into the preparations and management of the NRAWA (King’s) PM. This proved to be the last held in Kalgoorlie. An office for the NRA was secured free of charge in the Palace Hotel and Miss Eastmon was appointed chief clerk for the PM at £10 ($700). Her assistant received £2.10.0 ($175). The Secretary received an honorarium of £25 ($1,800) and £5.5.0 for expenses. An Assistant Secretary was given £10.10.0. The Range Officer’s honorarium was £5.5.0 and expenses £2.2.0. A motor car was secured for the range officer. The Pit Officer received £6.6.0 ($440).

The range was cleared of debris up to the 900yard mound and telephones linking the mounds to the butts were found to be working. Two additional flag poles and halliards were obtained. An inspection of the targets found they had been incorrectly constructed and there was a shortage of timber to rectify the problem. A marquee was obtained and volunteers organised to erect it on the range. 18 markers were selected. With entries exceeding 180, an additional 10,000 rounds of ammo was added to the 30,000 allocated for the PM. An additional 25 programmes were ordered from the printers bringing the total to 225. With more entries than expected, the Goldfields preliminary match was reduced from 10 to 7 shots.

Thirty 10-shilling ($35) prizes were allocated instead of the usual 20 to accommodate the large number of entries. All shooting for a match would be completed before the next match commenced and competitors were to place shells at back of mound. King’s winners received £25 ($1,800) and a £5 medal. Second and third placed shooters received £10 and £5 respectively and a standard medal. Fourth to 30th received smaller amounts but no medals. The top 20 scorers received badges. Individual match winners won £8 ($560) with smaller amounts for up to 40th place. The local manager of the NRAWA’s bank was approached to secure the prize money.

Clubs were given tents free of charge if they agreed to erect them and a trench was dug five yards behind the butts to ‘rope off’ the competitors. Why were competitors behind the butts?

The cost of challenges by competitors to the score that the target markers signalled had been reduced to 1 shilling ($3.50), but this seemed to have led to an increase in challenges that slowed down the King’s competition. Markers kept the 1 shilling if the challenge failed. There was one telephone line between the mound and the butts which meant challenges banked up thus delaying the competition. The quality of markers that led to the challenges was questioned with the response being that the war years meant there were fewer experienced markers. For their part, markers also complained about the slow shooting rate that meant concentration waned at times and they didn’t see when a shot had fired through their target.

The conditions were challenging. The wind blew strongly from the right in gusts and swung across and up the range. “Chief interest centred in the final for The King's for which Arthur Harris [Boulder RC and state team member], who topped the aggregate over the first stage with 272, was favourite. He had the misfortune to fire a faulty cartridge at the 600 yards shoot, which blew back and inflamed his eye.” Nevertheless, he fronted for the shoot off and not surprisingly “commenced very poorly and registered three magpies (threes) for a start. In the meantime, R. L. Adams [Rocky Bay Rifle Club], who came second in the aggregate of the three stages for the King's with 269, scored eight centres [fours in those days] and two bull's-eyes [fives], a total of 42, bringing his aggregate up to 311. This left Harris with two bulls to score with his last two shots to equalise the scores. Excitement was intense as the first shot was fired, a four being registered. The marking disc was half on the bull's-eye. The second shot was a bull. Harris had failed by one point, his aggregate being 310. All eyes were now focussed on W. G. Clarke (Citizens' Rifle Club, Kalgoorlie) who required a bull with his last shot to equal Harris's aggregate. His luck was out as he scored a four and thus made his aggregate 30, which gave him third position.”

NRA delegates were involved in a considerable amount of activity away from the range. Thomas Trumble, the Secretary of the Department of Defence, announced he would make a visit to the PM and ‘arrangements were to be made for his comfort’. This is highly significant because Trumble was the new ‘boss’ of rifle shooting in Australia taking over from the Army and the NRAWA wished to ensure he was duly impressed enough with the event to ensure funding was provided to the movement. It was pointed out to him that the current subsidy of just £1 ($70) per member was insufficient. Trumble could make no promises for any increased support (given the dire financial position of the Government following WW1) but was favourably impressed by the record number of competitors at the King’s PM.

The State Team Selection Committee also met in Kalgoorlie over the King’s PM. They issued invitations to the top six aggregate shooters and then considered the names of those that had formally nominated for the team. Traditionally, the two State delegates to the Commonwealth Council were also included in the team of 14. Accordingly, the Chairman H.J Simper and R Peart left the room while the three remaining committee members concluded that Simper and Peart be added to the team. Further names were considered and selected until Simper, Hill and Richards excused themselves to catch the last train to Perth.

The cost of fielding a team was one of a number of hot topics for the next committee meeting. Fares were estimated at £240 ($16,800) first class or £200 ($14,000) second class to Sydney. The total cost of sending a team might be as low as £290 ($20,300) but the actual cost should be affordable if the annual Commonwealth grant of around £600 ($42,000) was obtained. The eventual budget was set at £284.12s.0d being £216.4.0 for train fares (and meals), £17.8.0 for tent hire and £15 for related expenses and £36 for meals on the range. There were insufficient funds to send wind coaches. The final cost was £268.10s ($18,800) because members elected to travel second class foregoing sleeper cabins. KW McKenzie (Fremantle Rifle Club) obtained third badge (from 800 shooters!) in the King’s Prize. The team attended a dinner with other State’s hosted by NSW. The Secretary, J. S Eastmon, also hoped that the WA Government would copy the NSW Government’s generosity in granted half price train fares to rifle shooters attending the King’s PM.

The captain – manager of the State team, J.S. Eastmon reported that the team journey to Sydney in 1921 took five days by train. They were met by NSW representatives who accompanied them the 22 miles to the ANZAC range where they erected their tents. The team practised over the next two days and sorted out a number of issues with their rifles. The team competition commenced on Friday October 14 and problems arose immediately. Eastmon reported that the plate and figure targets were hard to see and were sometimes not visible at 900 yards. There were 10 plates that were one foot square and a target representing a machine gun 4ft x 2ft for the Northcote Challenge Cup. Fifty percent of the fire were to be directed to the plates and the rest on the machine gun figure with 25 points awarded for a hit in the first minute. WA and South Australia each had one hit on the square plate, Queensland 2 hits, Victoria and Tasmania 3 each. NSW failed to hit the target. WA and South Australia each hot the machine gun target 3 times, Queensland twice and Victoria once. Tasmania and NSW missed. WA got two hits in one minute. WA, SA and Queensland ended with 29 points each and faced off in a deciding shoot out where WA won.

The Gordon Highlander trophy targets consisted of eight men in massed formation for the first application, in a running pose for the second application, and in a firing position for the third application. The team was required to volley fire at the targets. Each individual target would disappear when hit. Queensland won with 13 hits and WA came fifth with 7.

Individual shooting matches commenced on the Monday. George Woods (Police Rifle Club) and F.D. Smith (Bunbury Rifle Club) won a match each. Violent weather was experienced throughout the week.

The Commonwealth Teams match (rated second to the Empire match) commenced on Saturday in unsafe conditions not tolerated today. Teams of ten competed over 300, 600, 700 and 900 yards. By the end of 700 yards, WA and Victoria were equal first. At 900 yards, the first 7 shooters were came away with competitive scores but the final three succumbed to the wet conditions leaving NSW victorious. Eastmon reported that the rain impacted elevation abnormally with up to 9 minutes lower at 300 yards and six above at 900 yards. CR Hill of Bunbury topped scored for WA with 44, 45, 41 and 42 at 300 to 900 yards. A newspaper reported the gale resulted in 8 MOA of wind at 300 yards.

Museum Item 2022.118 Kalgoorlie rifle range 1921 Shooting for the Keenan Cup

Museum Item 2023.107 J S Eastmon, Secretary National Rifle Association of Western Australia From 1st May 1920 to 4th May 1950

08/05/2026

Busselton-Bunbury RC Golden Bullet 16-17 May

05/05/2026

Eastern Goldfields District Rifle Association
Prize Meeting 30–31 May

The Eastern Goldfields District Rifle Association is seeking feedback regarding the upcoming Prize Meeting scheduled for 30–31 May.

Given the current fuel situation—including rising costs and ongoing uncertainty around availability—the Association would like to understand whether members are still intending to travel and participate.

Planning for the event is underway; however, an indication of likely attendance is needed to assist organisers in determining how to proceed.

If you’re planning to attend, please advise by 12 May so arrangements can be finalised.

Contact:
Susan Stirling
📧 [email protected]
📞 0417 932 988

22/04/2026

Condolences are extended to the Wagland family on the passing of Reg this week. Reg was a life member of WARA. The funeral will take place at 2pm Wednesday 29th at Pinnaroo Valley East Chapel. The wake will be at the Rose and Crown in Guildford at 4pm.

20/04/2026

The West Australian Rifle Association 1914 to 1940
Part 5 The Interwar Years: Challenges in 1920
While the NRAWA Council continued to make plans based on pre war conditions and funding, the signs were that this was not realistic for the years ahead. The supply of barrels had dried up as did full fare passes for free train travel. Mr F E Piesse, delegate for the Great Southern District Rifle Union, said that rifle barrels were needed and if the military expected rifle clubs to flourish they should supply the barrels. G Lester, delegate for the North West District Rifle Union opined that members could not expect to attend prize meetings without train passes.

The shortage of new barrels threatened the competitiveness of the State team and therefore the Council moved to purchase 12 from BSA. Good news arrived in August that the Army would supply up to 500 barrels at a cost of £1.12.6 ($139 in today’s currency) with fitting being 2 shillings each.
Issues concerning rifle ranges took up a great deal of the NRAWA’s time. There was frustration that the Army had not completed the long range gallery at Swanbourne and that the repairs to the Geraldton range were not being attended to. The Eastern District Union delegate was vocal about the Army’s tardiness in securing a range at Northam. He thought that the £5,000 budget being sought by the Army was excessive because there was 200 acres available at £10 per acre. Delegates were also flummoxed as to why the Army was having difficulty securing the land earmarked for the Bruce Rock range because ‘it was useless for any other purpose’. The Council were not aware or found it hard to accept that the Army’s priorities lay elsewhere and that they wanted to decouple themselves from the rifle movement. That the rifle movement were still focussed on being an arm of the Army was further evidenced by a proposal from Colonel Sir Charles Merrett, the much respected Chair of the Victorian Rifle Association, seeking support for qualified rifle club members to be given machine guns for rapid fire competitions.

The December minutes of the last NRAWA Council meeting for 1920 are indicative of the changes ahead for the sport. Train fare concessions ended increasing the cost for members to attend prize meetings. The supply of free ammunition was limited to 100 rounds and the Supervisor of Rifle Clubs required that a finance committee be formed to advise on where the Commonwealth grant should be spent. This triggered a lively discussion about who should be on the Finance Committee. One delegate pointed out that a committee made up of city members may be prejudiced towards city rifle ranges. City based members were more able to attend meetings because delegates from regional Associations were constrained by the tyranny of distance. The main form of travel was by train with most people not owning a car. Train travel for delegates from Kalgoorlie and Geraldton took around 12 hours. The Supervisor made it clear that the Commandant was not ceding any powers to the Committee. Frustration was evident over the slow progress towards completing the long range at Osborne with the NRAWA proposing £2,250 (half of the States allocated Commonwealth grant) to finishing the works. The Supervisor pointed out that the Commandant would not use rifle movement money on a military range.

The minutes of the NRAWA AGM held on the 30 of December 1920 demonstrate the diversity of views and issues concerning the management of rifle shooting in WA. Asked where the 1921 King’s Prize would be held, Frank Simper (the Chairman) replied that the NRAWA would probably offer it to Kalgoorlie and if they did not accept then it would be held in the metropolitan area. Simper pointed out it was difficult for members to travel to Kalgoorlie and this would mitigate against the success of the prize meeting. The diverse geography of the WA was evident in the discussion of when to hold the prize meeting. Mr Lutley of the Babakin Rifle Club (between Bruce Rock and Corrigin) recommended March or September as the best dates for country (farming) members. However, Mr Broad from the Round Hill Rifle Club (near Moora) said September was shearing time in his district and that March was preferred. Mr Suraski (Collie Rifle Club) agreed that August would be better for Kalgoorlie and March for a metropolitan prize meeting. Others at the meeting opined that August was more suitable for farmers. Simper opined March was too warm and that WA should schedule the prize meeting to fit in with the Eastern States meetings in a way that gave WA time to select a team for the national competition. It was agreed to hold the prize meeting in September, an arrangement that has continued for most years to this day.

Other issues discussed included the need to change the competition rules to give the shooters the right to challenge the marking for each shot. The minutes note that Mr Moore (Kalgoorlie Rifle Club) ‘addressed the chair for some time’ on the matter. At the time, the target was not pulled into the pits to determine a miss. One member opined that the NRAWA made money out of challenges for missed shots (or indeed other scores). The Chair refuted this saying that if the challenge was upheld the money was returned to the shooter. Simper did agree that 2 shillings and sixpence ($7.65 in 2025) was too much to charge for a challenge and the amount ought to be reduced to one shilling. One member moved that the charge be increased to 5 shillings ($15). Not surprisingly, this latter motion was not supported. The Chair indicated the need to challenge would be reduced when they moved to single target use. The introduction of electronic targets in the 21 century has all but eliminated shot value challenges.

The new Finance Committee lost no time in holding its first meeting to advise the Commandant on the distribution of grants to District Unions and remote area clubs. It recommended each country Union would receive £20 ($1,220) with the Great Southern receiving £30. Remote clubs to get £5 ($305) each included Ravensthorpe, Carnarvon, Round Hill and Moora. The last two are curiously included as neither are remote. It’s possible that as they were included in the Metro Union they were considered remote from Perth. It was recommended that the Metro Union get £20 because they had assisted Round Hill and Moora. The Committee recommended that a travel grant be made to attend the District Union prize meetings.
Despite the Supervisor’s advice to contrary, the Finance Committee recommended that £2,250 be allocated to completing the long ranges at the Osborne range. Other recommendations included £10 for repairs on the Mullalyup range (between Kirup and Balingup), £30 for moving the Dalwallinu range, £20 for targets at Quairading, £20 for pit construction at Dorakin (east of Wickepin), £20 for targets at Scotts Brook (South east of Boyup Brook), £30 for drainage at Chidlows Wells, £90 for a new range at Lotagin (possibly Totadgin, southwest of Merredin), £20 for a telephone service at Mornington Mills, £10 for a stop butt works at Beverley, £30 for maintenance of the South Perth range, £20 for stop butts and mounds at Narrogin, £10 for a shed at Pingelly and £20 for a fence at the Bunbury range.

Museum Item 2022.118 Shooting for the Keenan Cup – Kalgoorlie 1921
Museum Item 2022.117 NRA of WA “Keenan Cup” medal won by Fremantle Rifle Club WF Sampson
Museum Item 2025.130 1902 BSA “Long Tom” LE1 belonging to Harry Armstrong. Originally issued to the Commonwealth of Australia Military Forces in WA
Museum Item 2021.27 Dawson cup, repurposed in 2003 as Western Australian Long Range Championship Cup. The original inscription reads: “Presented by Peter Dawson Distiller Dufftown and Glasgow to the Volunteers of Western Australia Defenders of Hearth and Home and of the Empire of Greater Britain 1910”
The Company had previously donated a silver shield that was won outright by the Fremantle Rifle Club in 1911. The Cup was presented in 1910 for competition from 1911 onwards. The Cup was mounted on an oak pedestal. Originally valued at 80 guineas ($9,740 in 2025).
“For some inexplicable reason the Customs Department are claiming the large sum of £18 [$2180] before allowing the cup to come out of bond, and the N.R.A. executive are asking the Minister for Defence to take steps in the matter.” [West Australian, Saturday 14 January 1911, page 13] Minutes of the General purpose Committee NRA of WA (8 December 1910) states the cup was declared to be valued at £73 ($8,843 in 2025 values).

08/04/2026

Old Club Rediscovered - Museum Open this weekend

Recent research has found the 299th rifle club, affiliated with WARA, to have existed in WA. The Thompson's Brook Rifle Club range opened 9 September 1934. It was located on Forrest Road near the old Thompson’s Brook School, approx. 7km east of Donnybrook in the Preston Valley on land owned by J Thompson.

A full list of clubs discovered to date will be available for perusal in the Museum this weekend

Photo: This is a British Martini‑Henry rifle originally made at Enfield in 1880 in .577/.450, later converted in 1896 to .303 for Victorian (Australia) government service and later for target shooting competition.