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Posted by busymitts on 06-May-2011 08:25 Report
Donation for school kids in archery :)
Hi, I've had to put this up because we've never had anything like this before.

Hubby & I, plus 2 other club members, have taught one local highschools kids in FITA target archery (thats olympic targets not simulated hunting 3D) each wk (minus school hols) for some yrs now where most of the kids have never shot before though some return term after term. The highschool provides pretty useless stick bows & a few arrows whilst we provide the majority of arrows, repairs to bows & arrows, plus the targets with our coaching & strict advice. Earlier this wk when we were setting up before the kids arrived for sport, we assessed our arrows & realised we were running short on the arrows for the new kids quite often send the arrows into the steel target frame legs & poof! Hence a discussion arose as to the cheapest arrows we could buy as a club for the highschool kids. 

A few days ago a senior friend (he knows we teach the kids) living up north rang us at home std & let hubby know we were receiving a package via Express Post. It arrived yesterday & inside this huge box was about 7 dozen arrows in perfect condition, all with nocks, fletches & target points, plus brand new unopened packets of fletches, more points etc. I got in contact with him with a majorly big thankyou & ask if he wanted us to refund him the postage cost - $38 & he passed on the refund too - his only stipulation was we were to stress to the kids that a Queenslander donated them for the school kids & not a New South Wales'r. That old coot is an absolute legend for his donation towards these school kids!!! He's not a store & shop of any kind, just a private archer on a pension. Just goes to show there really is some niceness in the world, though rare at times & we know a big bunch of school kids that are really going to appreciate his donation. So yeah, thought I'd share this really nice event. :)

Have a great day all, cyas. :)
 
Replied by kidsstuff on 06-May-2011 08:43 (Ref 2289695) Report
That is just fantastic.  It goes to show that people do care.
Have you thought about appling for a grant from the council cause our local councils here give out grants a couple of times a year to not for profit sporting organisations.  This may help you in the future to buy some equipment for the schools.
Replied by kiwiroo1212 on 06-May-2011 08:43 (Ref 2289696) Report

What a lovely thing to do, there are indeed some lovely people out in the world.

All to often we here of the bad and not enough of the good, so thank you for posting this.

Congratulations on your new items :-)

Kiwi
-x-
Replied by busymitts on 06-May-2011 09:44 (Ref 2289723) Report
Council grant??! ROFLMAO! We have to rent the club 'no electricity no loo's' shed & field from council (council used to mow the field but now we have to), we've had to fork out from our own pockets for majorly securing shed properly with break-ins, along with hubby & a few others doing the work with own tools free without extra labor cost of tradesmen - we received one yr from council $200 back but nowhere near the full cost over the yrs for box steel, multiple huge locks, brackets & full interior of shed now rio mesh plus a few whirlie roof ventilators. We can no longer keep any archery equipment, barr a few targets & an old desk for paperwork, in the club shed for the council won't cover thefts either despite being council property.  We're a not for profit small club but still have to charge attending club members small shooting fees to cover cost to purchase target faces & pay council rent, other than that, we're pretty much nada.  

This wk the council notified the town public via local newspaper that they were near a million over budget due to doing street upgrades to town center plus a new community center building that not many locals even wanted & tried to stop with petitions - so as far as even thinking of trying for a grant, it would be totally useless. Nice suggestion but useless with this council! LOL!

So like I typed in above, donations just don't happen for us & that old friend is a legend isn't he!  Gotta go, cyas. :)
Replied by sheila-bloke47 on 06-May-2011 10:43 (Ref 2289735) Report
Busy stuff the local council.  Go to the state government.  Money raised from taxes on certain things. eg.  gambling has to be given back to the community.  If that doesn't work try ACA or the likes.  Their always pushing for local stories and this might get you some sponsorship from a sporting company.  Good advertisement for them too.

And good luck to your group.
Replied by happyinoz on 06-May-2011 11:25 (Ref 2289750) Report
A very nice story.  Perhaps, take some photos of the students enjoying the archery lessons and send them to the generous donor as a thank you.
Replied by _jinni_ on 06-May-2011 11:28 (Ref 2289751) Report
A lovely thing to read busymitts, it so nice to hear the good kindhearted stories instead of doom and gloom

Councils are just  a law unto themselves, who can ever figure their sense or  reasoning - it's a great thing you are doing keeping young ones occupied and teaching them sporting skills.

Wishing you and that lovely gentlemen donor lots of good fortune.

cheers jinni
Replied by bitemycrankshaft on 06-May-2011 15:37 (Ref 2289771) Report
we were running short on the arrows for the new kids quite often send the arrows into the steel target frame legs & poof

Our local archery club has an entirely different reason for running short of arrows... apparently, they are being stolen by inconsiderate kangaroos... who like to use their heads as targets

Police are investigating and expect to lay charges over the coming days... but the archery club's reputation has taken an absolute pounding in the press (and rightly so)

 


 
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so
long at the closed door, we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Replied by busymitts on 06-May-2011 15:54 (Ref 2289773) Report
We don't hunt - straight up - I refuse to even shoot at foam shaped animals, hence we're olympic target face shooters only & strictly that. I did try 3D foam animals once only but never again coz it creeped me out.  Each school term we have 1-2 kids that try something stupid like sky-drawing instead of aiming at the target faces - they get warned once only & if they repeat it, they're finding another sport for we will not allow them to return, simple as that with one warning only for there is no mucking up even with the schools stick bows. 

Its illegal to shoot roo's unless a property owner is having a private cull (I think, not sure simply coz we don't hunt) & then any form of hunting in certain allowed forests is only permitted with certain animals & with a hunting license, same rules apply to any properties that are game reserves for hunters as well.
 
None of our bows or arrows have ever seen a drop of blood & I'll be the first one in trouble if any of our bows or arrows do coz I'll probably have shot the 'person' in the leg within my scope range thats shot an animal in what 'some' call sport...pass & no thankyou! (Makes me think of that tv series ad with the horse about to be shot but the horse grabs the owners gun, shoots him in the leg & rides him around saying 'Do ya like that??!!') Sorry but we're not hunters, no offense to those that do but we will never be. BMC if that local archery club near you is being investigated then good coz that is exactly the rogue behaviour legit FITA shooters are trying to stamp out. Years ago some young 20ish guy shot someones horse through the neck whilst it was in its paddock, the twat used a bow - that twat ended up behind bars & thankfully the horse lived. We have heard well & truely about the rogue shooters & I even agree that anyone with these bows should be licensed - be it stick, recurve or compound bow, whilst some archers don't agree but we think safety of others first. 
Replied by sheila-bloke47 on 06-May-2011 16:29 (Ref 2289784) Report

BMC that is a low blow.  It has nothing to do with the OP's club but you've just hang a label on them by that post associating the two archery clubs.
Replied by bitemycrankshaft on 06-May-2011 16:29 (Ref 2289785) Report
In an attempt to save face... the president of the archery club spoke out in yesterdays local rag... saying that he would examine the arrow recovered from one of the destroyed animals... and that he was 100% certain that the owner could be identified. He said that the offender would be given a short grace period (possibly a day or two) to hand themselves in to police... after this grace period the club would snitch on him/her by handing over in depth details of their findings. 


 
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so
long at the closed door, we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Replied by busymitts on 06-May-2011 16:35 (Ref 2289788) Report
Exactly right & why you may ask? Because anyone that shoots with any club is required to have their name on their arrows, every single one of them, that way members can tell their arrows apart though some are just totally different to what rest of whatever club is shooting hence some arrows can be distinguished just by looking at them if the name is not easily readable. Stuff the day or 2 grace period, just hand the perps over & be rid of them - we would. Sheila-bloke I don't have a problem with BMC's replies coz like I stated we legit shooters are trying hard to stamp out that rogue behaviour & many clubs work with the police themselves to ensure archery shooting remains within the law - line up anyone that breaks it. But no, we have not & nor will we ever hunt animals BMC. :)
 
On the up-side, one woman that won a gold medal for Australia in the last Olympics had only been shooting 2 yrs whilst others have shot for decades & haven't gotten anywhere near that. Hubby has yet to get a 'robin hood' (one of his arrows shot straight up the back of another members arrow) after over 20yrs of shooting - I got it in 1 & a half, pure fluke but I'm happy enough with having that before him, hehe. :)
Replied by timon40 on 06-May-2011 21:20 (Ref 2289891) Report
 That's wonderful news busymitts, I am really happy for you. I bet the kids will have a ball using the new arrows. Fantastic stuff!! 

                                                                Ange
Replied by busymitts on 07-May-2011 08:25 (Ref 2289951) Report
Thanks Ange - I got to show the school kids just how dangerous shooting bows can be the other day. As you knew we've been getting the family new carbon arrows & hubby just finished putting his fletches etc on his new arrows last wkend & started sighting his arrows in prior to the kids sport same day...the inevitable happened somewhat quickly coz he's got the archers dozen now - one arrow is history via steel target frame, completely buggered already just sighting in, but at least I got to show the kids right there & then how shooting the wrong poundage bow with wrong stiffness carbons will send those lovely splintered fibers (clearly visible in the destroyed arrow) straight into hands or forearm along with nice hole, all set for hosp A&E + operations straight afterwards.

Anyone considering beginning archery & purchasing archery equipment, beforehand make sure you go to an archery club & be properly measured for your specifications (afterwards go back to club & join it!). Buying archery equipment is expensive & its much better to get good quality 2nd hand equipment on auction sites BUT make sure you find out what specifications you are first or you may end up in hosp & its not pleasant. I'd post a pic but its too gruesome for oztion. Make sure you purchase the right equipment for club type your joining as there is different types of archery shooting, bows & equipment. After purchase of any equipment, make sure you check with your new club & ensure your bow is set up correctly for recurve & compound limbs not properly installed can & will near take your head clean off & yes I've seen it! Also go to Ange above & get your arrow wraps - much better $ than stores & he is a FITA archery shooter saving up $ to shoot at the next Olympics. (plug plug lol)  

Just as BMC & I discussed - never ever shoot protected animals, if you intend on hunting make sure you stay within the law & know the rules or face jail terms with all equipment seized by police & they will not return it!

One more thing before I rack off - if anyone shoots 3D, your not a target shooter, your a simulated hunting short range 45M 1-shot wonder at 20ish foam animals with major bush walking over a whole day - your a target shooter when your shooting up to 150 arrows within a few hrs at the FITA olympic faces at 90 & 70M. (I can hear a heap of 3D'rs screaming already!!) nerr nerr, to each their own & enjoy - lol. (Thats the equivalent of football teams face off) 

Have a good wkend all, cyas. :)
Replied by timon40 on 07-May-2011 14:34 (Ref 2290079) Report
 Thanks Busy, I hope to ready in time for the 2016 Paralympics.
Thank you so much for your support

Ange
Replied by busymitts on 09-May-2011 09:36 (Ref 2290618) Report
*cough* I must've jinxed myself coz for the first time in ages I dropped my bow arm on the wkend Ange - guess who found a steel target frame leg & had one arrow bent like a banana....I'm going to have to be phoning my archery supplies seller each wk now for my carbons coz I'm down to 8.  At least our club had a good laugh!
Replied by timon40 on 09-May-2011 21:00 (Ref 2290751) Report
 Don't worry about it Busy, I have done that a few times myself over the years. I have also done a "robin hood" a couple of times as well. I think from memory I have done it about half a dozen times. It's not a nice experience for the archer, but everyone else who sees it thinks its a "hoot". Anyways Enjoy your archery and as i always say  "May all your arrows hit the "gold" ".

                                                                                       Ange
Replied by timon40 on 28-May-2011 18:03 (Ref 2295937) Report
Would love an update on how the kids are going with the new arrows and equipment?.

                                                                    Ange
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