INTERESTED in shooting since he was strong enough to hold a gun, Garry took after his father and began learning how to shoot with an air rifle in the backyard of his country home.
At eight years old, Garry’s father taught him the basics of shooting, which sparked an interest in the unique sport.
Garry grew up in the United Kingdom until he and his parents emigrated to Australia.
He was soon introduced to the Brisbane Pistol Club where he discovered his talent for shooting an air rifle didn’t replicate in pistol shooting.
However, fate didn’t abandon him as at the age of 40, he met Peter Williams who welcomed Garry to his local pistol club in Beaudesert.
“One of the things that really attracted me to the Beaudesert Pistol Club was that it was so well built, and the people here are all country people, so they’re easy to get along with,” Garry said.
“I went, ‘This is the place for me’. It was thanks to Peter that I joined the club in 1996.”
Garry has obtained various qualifications where he received a level one coaching certificate and completed a Range Officer course in 1997.
Since then, he has spent his time volunteering as a coach and Range Officer at Beaudesert Pistol Club as well as juggling committee duties as their administrator.
“My time now is not involved in shooting for me anymore. I spend all my time helping other people,” he said.
“I like to see somebody getting good at what they do and if they really listen and take on board, there’s a sense of satisfaction in helping them do that.”
Through his volunteer work, Garry helps at the Olympic shooting complex in Belmont where their facility hosts National and State titles.
“It’s quite exciting watching the best pistol shooters compete and being part of a high-profile event,” Garry said.
“This interaction has given me experience and helped formulate some ideas to introduce into the Beaudesert Pistol Club.”
He recently pitched the idea of starting a ‘Women and Girls in Sport’ program to make the sport more inclusive.
“The Queensland Government are not that friendly towards guns anymore, so it’s kind of diminished the interest in shooting,” he said.
“We need to talk positively about shooting because it’s a great sport, and not to hide because we’ve got guns.”
Garry hopes to rebuild the pride in the Beaudesert Pistol Club and show people another light towards shooting with guns.
