THE key to maintaining the drive and energy of any sporting club rests in the hands of its most dedicated members.
These members are those who stick with the cause for years and are always willing to put their hand up for any position or volunteer for any job.
Eighty-three year-old Vey Payne is one of those club members you’d love to have in your group.
Fortunately for the Beaudesert Pistol Club he decided to dedicate his time away from his job as a builder to their club and has stayed true to the sport for 58 years.
Over those years he has held every position there is to hold on the committee and this has included the president’s role on more than five occasions.
It was only last month that he decided to step back from the committee recognising that his health had become an issue.
“It was a sad moment for me, but it has been a wonderful time and it has been a great part of my life,” Vey said.
“When I joined the club I was committed to seeing it grow in statue and I can proudly say it has done just that.
“It is one of the few pistol clubs in the country that owns its own land and premises and also boasts first class shooting facilities.”
As a builder Vey has hammered more than a few nails into the club’s ongoing improvements and his efforts and that also of his wife, Judith, didn’t go unnoticed.
In 2016 the club unveiled a plaque that read “The Vey and Judith Payne Shooting Complex”.
Vey says he was never a great shooter, but did always manage to hold his own in all competitions.
He is proud of the fact that his best score of 575 out of 600 on the rapid fire range has rarely been equalled.
Over more than half a century Vey has seen the club ebb and flow with membership at one stage more than 100, while at another period it was down to just 10.
Now it has a healthy core, but Vey said he was keen to see more young shooters come down to the range.
“Pistol shooting is an Olympic Sport and now is the time for juniors to call in and see if they have a talent that could take them all the way to the podium at the upcoming Brisbane Olympics,” he said.
“Shooters from 11 years of age can join and with supervision they can aim up”
The Beaudesert Pistol Club holds events on Wednesday night and Saturday mornings.
For now you may not see Vey standing at the range ready to shoot, but he plans to clean up his pistols and get back on the range in the near future.
