North West Hunting Club

The North West Hunting Club (NWHC) began back in 1996 following law reforms after the Port Arthur Massacre. After this incident, laws were changed so that permission to hunt on rural properties was no longer considered a justifiable reason to hold a recreational firearms permit; and as such, firearms could be seized if this was the only lawful reason a person had for owning a firearm. The solution to this was to join a hunting club. The main issue with this was that these clubs were uncommon at the time. Large national target clubs such as the SSAA and Field and Game rapidly gained the additional hunting club status, but for many towns there were no local clubs to join. As a result, Shooters Party MP The Hon. John Tingle contacted people in NSW and urged them to form hunting clubs. In Tamworth this contact was Athol Page, owner of Foster’s Firearms. From here Mr Page gathered a group of 19 like-minded hunters and members from the SSAA, Clay Target Club and Pistol Club to discuss the formation of a Hunting Club. During this meeting on the 17th August 1996 an application for club approval was sent to the firearms registry and the North West Hunting Club was officially established with Mr Athol Page as the first President. Since this time the club has forged its identity as a group of members who enjoy getting out into the bush and hunting. Because of the high percentage of genuine hunters in the club it was one of the first to be approached to be part of the R-License system (public land hunting). This included both testing and accreditation and as such NWHC members were involved with the first state forest hunts. The club has continued to be a strong supporter of this system and still holds regular events in conjunction with the local DPI representative. The NWHC also holds multiple club shooting days every year, hosts educational activities and organises weekend hunts to foster its member community.