In Memoriam

It is with sad hearts that the MSBRC inform you of the passing of one of our members

R.J McPhail (Dick) - 23/10/1934 - 2/12/2016

Dick began his shooting career at the Frankston Small Bore Rifle Club in Melbourne at the age of 18. Dick recalls shooting small bore before he went into National Service in August 1953. When the McPhail family moved to Mildura in 1965 Dick joined the Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. when the club was located at the Big Bore Range at Ontario Avenue, which is now the site of the rubbish tip. In 2003 the club moved to the current leased premises at Mildura Pistol Club at Magnum Avenue, Koorlong.

Dick continued to participate actively in shooting up until recently. Dick was a member of the Target Rifle Victoria for 64 years and probably was one of the longest active members of the Association. He was a member of the Victorian State Team for a number of years where he competed against the best shooters in Australia in Interstate Postal Teams Events and other competitions. Mildura’s newspaper the “Sunraysia Daily” mentioned a couple of years ago in their “50 years ago” column that 5 members of the Mildura SBRC shot a possible (100 out of 100) on the night and this included Dick McPhail, Bill Russell, Ivan Bell and two others. He was of course, as befits a person of his standing and longevity, a Life Member of our Club.

Dick was a joiner by trade and consequently any items such as scoring boards and shooting frames and bench rest tables were made just by mentioning them in passing conversation. He was a great club person who did all those odd jobs as required. He was willing to help in any capacity and at many of our North West Victorian Championships you would find Dick hunched over a board in the scoring shed for two days solid scoring a never ending stream of targets.

In 2012 the Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. honoured Dick with his name on the North West Victorian Bench Rest Championship Sash which is presented to the best overall Bench Rest Shooter.

He will of course be continued to be remembered in this manner after his passing.

Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. wishes to express our sincerest condolences to Shirley, Julie, Kevin, John (deceased) and the rest of the family.

From a tribute to Dick, written by Anton Wurfel and John Baudewyns

W.R. Russell (Bill)

Bill was a founding member of Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. when it was established in 1950. Originally Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club competitions were shot under Grandstand at Mildura No1 ovals in Eleventh Street, Mildura until 1957 when the club was moved to the site of the Big Bore Range at Ontario Avenue, which is now the site of the rubbish tip.

In 2003 the club moved to the current leased premises at Mildura Pistol Club at Magnum Road, Koorlong. Bill was a long serving member (over 60 years) of our club. Naturally he is a Life Member of our Club. Bill, over those many years, has held the positions of President, Secretary, Treasurer, Captain and was always willing to lend a hand to any working bee and projects the club undertook.

Bill was a keen fisherman, travelling to South Australia over many years to fish. Bill was also an active Board Member of the First Mildura Irrigation Trust for many years. Mildura’s newspaper the “Sunraysia Daily” mentioned recently in their “50 years ago” column that 5 members of the Mildura SBRC shot a possible (100 out of 100) on the night and this included Bill Russell, Ivan Bell, Dick McPhail and two others. In his later years he was a generous sponsor to our club with a donation towards the Club’s major event:- North West Victorian Championships which is held every Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday weekend in June.

The Mildura Small Bore Rifle Club Inc. honoured Bill with his name on the North West Victorian Prone Championship Sash in 2012. The Club will continue to honour his name on that sash in memory of a great club man.

From a tribute to Bill, written by Anton Wurfel