West Australian Rifle Association Queen's Prize Presentation Ceremony

Monday 28 September 2009



by His Excellency Dr Ken Michael, AC
Governor of Western Australia



As Patron of the West Australian Rifle Association, I am delighted to join you today for the presentation of the 100th Queen’s Prize, along with a number of other special award presentations.

This prestigious event is a competition of exceedingly high standard and enthusiastically contested on the now very modern electronic facilities of the Swanbourne Rifle Range.

The Queen’s Prize, the Rifle Associations and the Rifle Ranges are a noteworthy part of the history of Western Australia.

With the possible exception of horse racing, Target Rifle Shooting is almost certainly the oldest sporting organisation in this State, with its beginning in the early 1860’s. Its proud origins date further back to the defence and control of the Swan River Colony in 1829.
 
Rifle company members formed a trained Volunteer defence corps on the departure of the British troops stationed in the early colony. As the colony’s population grew and expanded, civilian militia, or Volunteer Rifle Companies, were established by the early 1860s in key locations such as Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton, Menzies on the Goldfields and Perth.

It is interesting to note that a large number of the Rifle Volunteers went to the Boer War in 1898 as part of the Australian contingent.

Significantly, the Volunteer Rifle Companies had an important and responsible role as Reservists for the defence of the Swan River Colony until the formation of the Australian Army in 1903/4.

On the establishment of the Australian Army, the Volunteer Rifle Companies became the Civilian Rifle Associations. However, the then Premier, Sir John Forrest, was unimpressed with the level of defence of Western Australia and ensured that civilian rifle clubs, under the umbrella of the National Rifle Association, remained active under the Defence Act, where they remained until 1997.

Rifle Ranges became part of the landscape and development in the early years of this State.

The first Rifle Range in Perth was in King’s Park and was built between 1861 and 1863, where regular practices were held until 1894. Other ranges were established in Fremantle, South Perth and Leederville.

A range at Karrakatta was built in 1896 to consolidate the other metropolitan ranges and Karrakatta was the headquarters of the National Rifle Association of Western Australia until 1911. The Swanbourne Rifle Range was established in 1912, largely cleared and built by members of the Association, which was to be renamed as the West Australian Rifle Association in 1965.

Today there are 68 Rifle clubs across the State to provide a safe and controlled environment for the pursuit of the sport of marksmanship.
 
The West Australian Rifle Association and other State Associations, collectively under the banner of the National Rifle Association of Australia, continue to enjoy the reputation of responsible and successful sporting organisations.

Rifle Association members represent their State at National Team Championships, not only in the senior teams but as members of the Veterans, Women’s and Under 25’s teams. Competition is pursued up to an elite level with many teams being sent from Western Australia for National Events. Congratulations on their fine efforts.

Today’s Prize Award marks the 100th Queen’s Prize winner in Western Australia.

The Queens Prize was established by Queen Victoria in Britain in the 1850’s and this Royal tradition started here in Western Australia immediately after Federation. I should add that the historic time line for the Award was not continuous as there was no event held during the war years.
 
The winner of last year’s Queen’s Prize, James Corbett, has been selected as one of the two Australian representatives for the next Commonwealth Games, which is wonderful news – we wish him well as he prepares to represent his country at the Games.

Congratulation to all the winners, competitors, volunteers and the West Australian Rifle Association for all their efforts and organisation in making this event the success it is.

I am very pleased to join you here today for these worthy presentations and look forward to presenting the Queen’s Badges and the 100th Queen’s Prize.