The Kelly family has more reason than most to be thankful for every cent raised toward this weekend’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter charity gun club shoot.
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The Boggabri-Gunnedah Gun Club family called on the crucial service to airlift their youngest child, Blake, who was suffering respiratory problems.
The helicopter made the mercy dash from Tamworth hospital to Newcastle to ferry the youngster for urgent treatment.
Now a healthy six-year-old, Blake and his family are eternally grateful for the help the medical team provided that day.
“[The service] has a bit more meaning for our family,” Blake’s dad Scott said.
“But I think everyone likes to support the helicopter because of the work they do.
“It’s a great benefit to our area to have them around.”
Each year the clay target gun club dedicates all profits from one of its monthly shoots toward charity which for the last two years has been the helicopter service.
As well as raising funds and promoting healthy inter-club competition, this weekend will also serve as a come and try event for new shooters.
No experience is necessary, just a willingness to have a go at clay target shooting.
Qualified instructors will be on hand to show newcomers the ropes and all equipment is provided.
“It’s a fun weekend, we don’t take it [competition] too seriously,” Scott said.
There will also be a five-stand novelty event on Saturday afternoon followed by a night shoot.
Among the local competitors, Alister Lyne and Steve Tydd will prove tough to beat in this weekend’s shooting.
As will ever-improving young-gun George Lyne.
“He is a junior who is shooting very well,” Scott said.
George is one of a growing list of club juniors making big claims on fellow competitors, some many years their senior.
“It’s good to see a lot of juniors coming to the sport and enjoying it,” he said.
“They’re improving every month, starting to beat the rest of us, including us old fellas.”
The family theme, he added, is one of the best aspects of clay target shooting.
“It’s a great family thing where the whole family can go away and shoot and some do... mum, dad and the kids,” he said.
All the action gets underway Saturday morning.
For more information visit: boggabrigunnedahgunclub.weebly.com