Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Monday, November 5, 2007
History of The Wendouree Archery Club
WACI HISTORY
Ballarat has had an Archery Club since at least 1864 (“The Webster Street Archery Club”).
Most sports in the 1800s were the sole province of men, but in a newspaper article titled “Pioneer Women Were Archers” (Club Scrapbook – about 1956) we read:
“In 1864 Ballarat had a women’s archery club, members of which wore a
striking uniform. During the question period at last night’s meeting of the
Historical Society members were told that Ballarat’s first archery club had
sections for men and women. Women members of the Webster Street
Archery Club chose a uniform which featured green jackets, and sailor hats
banded in green to be in keeping with uniforms worn by male club
members.”
Ballarat currently has two archery clubs (“Wendouree Archery Club Inc” [WACI], and “Ballarat Bowmen”).
Ballarat has most likely had at least one archery club throughout its history since the early 1860s, with one five year period (1965-1969) where Ballarat had three archery Clubs (Wendouree Archery Club [1947 - present], Ballarat East Archery Club [28.Jul.1963 - 1975] (used to shoot in Kline Street opposite the residential home), and the Sebastopol Archery Club [1965 - 1969]).
At least one Ballarat school has also had an archery club (Ballarat and Queens Anglican Grammar [1959-1961]).
From about the late 1930s, Jack and Lil Collins (died 1995), and Don (1906-1988) and Hilda Balfour (died 1983) were the backbone of a group of archers known as “The Ballarat Archery Club”.
Jack Collins and Don Balfour had been schoolmates at Black Hill School, and they used to saw hickory pitchfork handles in half and join them in a ferrule to fashion English long bows, and arrows out of red pine.
Ken Balfour (son of Don and Hilda) claimed that archery at Wendouree had begun at least 50 years prior to 1985 (ie: at least 1935).
Of course everything was hand made – the bows, arrows, targets, quivers, finger stalls (tabs), arm shields (guards) etc.
The strings were made from cobblers yarn.
The major people making equipment were Jack Collins (the bow maker), Herb Rudwick (the arrow maker) and Ern Rudwick (the target maker).
“The Ballarat Archery Club” used to practice on a Sunday morning at the Black Hill Reserve (east of the Black Hill School), and then later on the Nerrina Reserve (north east of where Stawell Street crosses the Yarrowee Creek).
Archers from Clubs in Geelong and Melbourne used to shoot with them.
Children going home from the Methodist Church (next to the Black Hill School) used to watch the archery practice.
As it was during the Second World War, the supply of hickory dried up, so alternative timbers were tried, firstly from staves of Brigalow (some American flat bows were made from Brigalow), and then from a timber called Orange Osage, of which there was a grove at Bacchus Marsh, and another at Avoca.
These staves were sawn by Bevan James (who had the joinery in Peel Street opposite the Black Hill Hall), and the grain had to be followed, otherwise the timber would fracture.
Because the grain was followed these bows were not generally at true arc.
A further bow development was the use of animal sinews (obtained from Jack Fraser, the butcher on the corner of Peel and Chisholm Streets) which were glued to the back of flat bows with casein glue.
The earliest targets were made by Don and Hilda Balfour (and son Ron) from sheaves of straw obtained from the Chaff Mill in Doveton Street.
By the 1950s Ernie Rudwick was the target maker. The straw rope was obtained from the Berryman Grass Rope Company in Canterbury Street, Brown Hill, then club members would wind it in catherine-wheel fashion into the target size, which was then stitched together with long hay-band with very long needles, which had been made by Jack Collins (a blacksmith).
The straw was then covered with canvas, and then painted with the rings on the target-face.
A later development was painting the target onto strong tar backed brown paper (“sisalcraft” placed under iron roofs to collect condensation) in working-bees in Elsie Rudwick’s back yard).
As a variant of the usual shoot, archers would go up the hill to the paddocks (off Ida Street, at this time there was only farmland beyond the Black Hill School) and conduct “Archery Golf”, the hole being substituted by a tennis ball on a stick.
This Club had no indoor, clout or field facilities.
Several members of the “Ballarat Archery Club” later shot with the “RSL Archery Club”, and then later joined the “Wendouree Archery Club”; with Jack Collins and Ken Balfour (Don’s son) becoming Presidents of “The Wendouree Archery Club.
Other members of this Club included Ray Benn, George Bowers, Don Johnson, Gabe and Dorrie Horgan, Nancy Horgan, Stan Horgan, Norm Leddick, Norma Leddick (Nee Leeman).
“The Wendouree Archery Club” is the oldest archery club in country Victoria.
The Club traces it origins to the “RSL Archery Club” (RSLAC, formed in 1947) which supported an active membership (in 1949 it had 15 financial members), as indicated by the surviving reports (“Toxophilite”) in “Cease Fire” - the magazine of the Ballarat RSL sub-branch (1949 - April k September, 1951 - February k June).
The badge (designed by Herb Rudwick) was an archery target and crossed arrows, in the RSL shaped shield, with the RSL crown on the top.
The Archery Association of Australia was formed in 1948.
In 1949 the “RSLAC” made a request to the City Fathers for the use of the area near the zoo (north of the Botanic Gardens), which was approved.
This site was:
“ideally situated among the gums and wattle that give ample shade to those
looking on at the game.”
Non RSL members were able to participate in shoots with the “RSLAC”, but the ex-service qualifications necessary to be a member of the RSL, meant that many interested persons were not able to join and become active members of the Club.
Over time, the “RSLAC” received many inquiries from archers, friends and relations of Club members who wanted to join the Club and participate in the Club.
Gerry Heavey and Herb Rudwick were the key people in the “RSLAC” responsible for looking at the idea of forming a Club to fill the need of those non-RSL members who wanted to become Club members.
Shortly after the formation of the “RSL and Wendouree Archery Club”, Gerry Heavey (died 1994) left Ballarat for Melbourne. On the website of the Kew City Bowmen, it states that the Kew City Bowmen was founded in 1949 by the joint efforts of Don Mills and Gerry Heavey, and that Gerry Heavey was “a man who has possibly done more for archery in Victoria than anyone”.
On the 17th of November 1949, Bob Cockerell and Gerry Heavey competed in the 2nd National Archer Championships, held at the Henry Turner Memorial Reserve in Footscray.
At a meeting on Saturday the 28th of October 1950, at the home of Mr. Herb and Mrs. Elsie Rudwick (903 Urquhart Street, Ballarat), the Club’s name was changed to the “RSL and Wendouree Archery Club”, and the rules regarding membership were changed.
It is to this meeting that the Club has its first association with the name “Wendouree”.
The host was elected the Vice President.
In the February 1951 edition of “Cease Fire” it states:
“The formation of the RSL and Wendouree Archery Club with a range at
Wendouree, is another branch of sport sponsored by the sub-branch that is
an asset to the city. Under the guidance of Bob Cockerell and his band of
workers a range second to none has been made at Wendouree, and the State
Championships will be shot over it in March.”
Note: The Ballarat Courier report names the club as the “Wendouree-RSL Archery Club”. The State Championships were actually held on St. Patrick’s College Oval, and made a profit of 2 pounds 2 shillings [$4.20], which was donated, to the St. Patrick’s College Sports Fund in appreciation of assistance.
The Club’s grounds were located in a paddock at the northern end of Shelley Street (east of where the Dowling Street swimming pool is now located, beside the Wendouree (Northern) Oval, behind M.B.Johns).
This was Council land, and Herb Rudwick and Bud Foley made a deputation to Councilor Ted Brown (the Ballarat Shire President) and permission was given.
At the first shoot of the new club were many famous archers, including Don Mills, often called “The Father of Victorian Archery”, and Arthur Thomas (then President of the Archery Society of Victoria.
Jack and Lil Collins were also visitors on that day (and later joined the new club).
The Club used to conduct Field shoots at Dawson’s Dam at Snake Valley, where the archers stayed overnight in huts at the migrant camp.
The 1951 Victorian Archery Championships (held at St.Patrick’s College, Ballarat) were arranged to be held as part of the Centenary year celebrations (Gerry Heavey came back to Ballarat to be the field captain).
Before the end of 1951 “RSL” was dropped from the Club name.
The new Club Badge was designed by Herb Rudwick about 1951, and was the basic design of the club badge for almost the next 50 years.
Herb Rudwick invested much time and cost in equipment for making arrows.
Arrows were made from hand-picked Oregon (had to have a straight grain), which was sawn into squares and then turned on a lathe (with special attachments made for the job by Ern Rudwick).
The all the arrows had to be weighed, and the “spine” was checked for all the arrows.
If an arrow weighed too much it was sanded till it was the right weight.
For a long time he used 0.303 points (he got from the Army) for the arrow head.
The feathers were turkey feathers that he had to get from a turkey farm on the Bellarine Peninsula, the top feather had to be painted (by Elsie Rudwick).
Sets of a dozen arrows were made with the same weight and “spine” (arrows that Herb had made were used to win Australian Championships).
To make hunting heads Herb would remove the lead by heating it (so it would be hollow and fit the shaft of the arrow), then saw down the tip of the arrow to insert a blade arrow tip.
Herb (a perfectionist) was soon producing arrows equal to the best.
Jack Collins and his wife Lillian May (Lil) (though not RSL members), had been shooting with the RSL Archery Club since at least 1949.
Jack and Lil were present at the meeting on the 28th October 1950.
Jack and Lil are regarded as the “Father and Mother of Archery in Ballarat” (“Mr. and Mrs. Archery”).
Jack organised the first shoots with other archery clubs; and also organised hunting trips (see “Cease Fire” June 1951).
In a 1951 newspaper cutting in the Club Scrapbook is the following article:
“Injuns” If you had been out Burrumbeet way last Monday you might have been pardoned for thinking of the “Injun” days of early America. A war party of 35 braves and squaws prowled the lakeside, crept stealthily through the grass and stalked the humble bunny. They were archery championship competitors rounding off their weekend with actual field shooting. For the bunnies they were as great a menace as a bout of myxomatosis – and more sudden too. Forty of the rabbit population of Burrumbeet will never again nibble grass, and a dozen owe their quick demise to the clear eye and steady hand of a Melbourne archer. Youngest archer was 10-year-old Fay Collins, of 10 Rice Street, Ballarat. Faye was unlucky not to record a kill. Herb Rudwick, a Ballarat archer, didn’t confine himself to rabbits. He shot a three foot brown snake at twelve yards. The snake slithered through the grass, started a headlong flight down a hole, but was trapped when the arrow kept one half above the ground. He was quickly dispatched by another shaft. It was the fourth snake to fall victim to Herb’s William Tell tactics.”
The Club used to have an annual competition shoot (begun in 1953) against the Sandringham club on Ian Donaldson’s farm “Riversglen”, situated on the banks of the Moorabool River at Lethbridge (the “Riversglen Trophy”). It appears that each club sent 4 men, and 2 women.
In 1955 Bud Foley, Herb Rudwick and Jack Collins thought that bushland west of the White Swan Reservoir would be an ideal place for a Field Course.
It currently consists of two 24 target courses, set within a State forest, where archers are surrounded by a spectacular bushland setting.
It is considered one of the finest archery Field courses in Australia.
The club hosted an annual shoot at the White Swan Reservoir, which was always well attended. Newspaper reports indicate that in 1956 there were 107 archers competing; in 1961 there were 74 archers competing, in 1963 there were about 80 archers from 13 clubs shooting, in 1982 there were 65 archers from 14 clubs competing, in 1984 there were 77 archers from 13 clubs; in 1985 there were 86 archers from 15 clubs; in 1986 there were 68 archers from 12 clubs, in 1988 there were 78 archers from 11 clubs, and in 1996 there were over 60 archers.
A 1985 newspaper article claimed that the annual field shoot at Ballarat was one of the oldest events of its type in Australia.
Jack Collins was one of Australia’s leading archers.
About 1955 only two Australian archers in the previous Australian Championships had shot 600 in an American Round (Note: Alan Widmer later shot over 600).
Jack had shot 600 in Ballarat (early 1951 – club scrapbook), and in a later newspaper cutting (date unknown) he had shot 654.
Note: At this time an “all gold” was rare, and sometimes was not seen during an afternoons shooting, and if one was shot, it was worthy of mentioning in a newspaper report. About 1956 (club scrapbook) when Len Hartup shot an all gold at 40 yards (36.57 metres), it was mentioned that this was only the second time this feat had been performed by a club member. In 1964 Herb Rudwick shot an all gold at 40yards and it was the feature of a newspaper article.
Jack Collins was the first winner of the Moorabbin Shield in 1955 (instituted by the Victorian Archery Club to recognise the creation of its new ground and club house).
When Jack won the championship of the Southern Cross Club, he defeated Wal Spry (an ex-Australian champion).
Jack Collins made his own bows (and for other people as well).
Jack Collins was a “genius” blacksmith (located on the south-east corner of Camp and Mair Streets), and he was the last working blacksmith in Victoria.
Reciting poetry was one of his hobbies.
In a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall in November 1967, he recited from C.J. Dennis’ “The Sentimental Bloke” to help raise money for the Association for the Blind (Fay his daughter [see above] was later Fay Tobin).
In 1956 the club began shooting metric (in metres) rounds.
Jack Collins had shot a men’s FITA round with a barebow, with a score of 574.
In 1956, a steel bow could cost more than ₤16 (over $32), and arrows cost about 25 shillings each ($2.50). (Note: Steel bows were replaced by laminated wood and fiberglass composite bows).
Jack and Lil Collins were tireless workers for the Club, and in September 1963, they were made life members of the “Wendouree Archery Club”.
The newspaper report (Ballarat Courier 20.Sep.1963) reads:
Honors for “Mr and Mrs Archery
At the annual meeting of the Wendouree Archery Club this week, life memberships were conferred on Jack Collins and Mrs Collins, and two perpetual shields for club championships were named in their honor. The president of the club, Mr D. Rapkins, said that the couple have been Ballarat’s “Mr and Mrs Archery” for many years. They were the pioneers of the sport in Ballarat,” he said, “and it is because of the spade work done by them during the past 20 years, that we are able now to enjoy the sport under ideal conditions.”
Mr Rapkins spoke of the primitive conditions and equipment which was the lot of the early archery enthusiasts in Ballarat. “From pickhandle bows to the beautiful laminated fiberglass ones of today covered the story of Jack Collins’ contribution to the sport in Ballarat,” Mr Rapkins said.
Mr and Mrs Collins were responsible for bringing about the first State archery championships, and having them staged in Ballarat.
PUT SPORT AHEAD
“One Victorian archery official said recently, that but for Jack Collins and his wife, archery in Victoria would still be 50 years behind as a sport, “ said Mr Rapkins.
The bestowing of life memberships were the least the club could do to honor two people who had done more for the club and the sport in general, than any other two in the State. He also presented to the club two shields to be known as the Jack Collins and Lil Collins shields. They will be for perpetual competition and will be held each year by the club’s champions, man and woman.
Mr Collins said that both he and his wife appreciated the honor conferred on them.
REPAID
“It is true that we have put a lot into archery,” he said, “but we have had it returned many times through the enjoyment we have received from the sport and the friendships made throughout Australia. Archery was a wonderful sport, Mr Collins said. He had been repaid for anything he had done by seeing the rapid strides the sport had made in Victoria and Australia during the past few years.
When Lil Collins died (7th September 1995), the Club placed the following in the Ballarat Courier, which is included in the Club Scrapbook:
Passing Of A Club Legend:
It is with a heavy heart that we say our last goodbye to a grand lady, Lil Collins. A kind and gentle spirit, with just a touch of mischief surrounding her soul. In her day, Lil was a great competitor. A solid club member and a good friend to those in need. Called with affection and respect, the mother of archery in and around Ballarat. Along the way her conscientiousness earned her the honour of a Life Membership with the Archery Club. Although the current membership is far removed from Lil’s days with the club, her name still evokes awe and reverence with the members. Lil’s memory is embedded in our club history so deeply, that to us she has not left. Her spirit and love of our sport will remain with us forever. We pass our deepest and sincerest sympathies to Faye, Jim and their families on the loss of your mother. – With great sorrow, - Members of the Wendouree Archery Club.
Herb Rudwick used to teach archery of a Monday night to polio afflicted youths.
A newspaper cutting (about 1951 – during the Korean War) reads:
“Archery is one sport that is not denied disabled Barry James, 10. Mr. Herb Rudwick, of the Wendouree and RSL Archery Club, is seen showing Barry how to release an arrow. The archers are launching a campaign to bring their sport to Ballarat’s disabled youth. They have so far given two archery classes to the Ballarat Disabled Youth Club.”
There have been Indoor Archery facilities in Ballarat since at least 1949, when only the experienced archers met at 7.30 on Tuesday nights at the gunnery room at the Barracks in Curtis Street, and shot 30 yards at a 3 foot radius target with bare bows.
The “Wendouree Archery Club” has had Indoor ranges at St. Alipius Boys Hall (from 28th October 1953), Delacombe Sports Stadium, Prince of Wales Park (1979 to 1985 in an old Nissen Hut), the Airport (1985 to July 1999), the Old Mill in Hill Street (August to December 1999), the sports centre on the corner of Howitt and Doveton Streets (1st January 2000 to late 2003), and then back at the airport (since mid 2004).
The annual club field shoot was shot on Sunday the 27th November 1960 at the White Swan Field Course, consisting of 28 targets before lunch, and 28 targets after lunch. Archers were to be at their shooting lines by 9 am, to begin shooting at 9.15 am. Fees for the day were: adults 7/6 [75 cents], juniors 5/- [50 cents]. Barbeque fires were burning for those who wished to cook their own meal at lunch time, and hot water was supplied.
By the 1960s technology was changing, bows were being made of laminated woods, steel and fiberglass; arrows were made of aluminium and fiberglass.
In 1962, the Wendouree Archery Club had a field shoot at the White Swan Reservoir against the Geelong Archers for the “Agincourt Eagle” (Geelong won).
Note: In the year 1962 (according to newspaper clippings), the club held 8 field shoots at the White Swan Reservoir.
The first demonstration of a sporting skill at a meeting of the Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club was on the 2nd of May 1962 when Jack Collins gave a speech and then shot arrows into a target in the Princes Room at Craig’s Hotel in Lydiard Street.
In April 1963 Jack Collins gave a similar speech and exhibition to the Ballarat Apex Club, again in the Princes Room at Craig’s Hotel where he shot a quiver of arrows into a small target at the far end of the room to illustrate his talk.
In the 1950s and 1960s the club (from newspaper clippings) was involved in many more shoots away, and hosting visiting clubs to Ballarat, than in the 1990s – early 2000s.
In the 1950s and 1960s there are several newspaper reports of club members shooting snakes during their shoots (eg. 5.May.1962).
In 1963 a split occurred in the Club, where many members left. The new club “The Ballarat East Archery Club” (28th July 1963 to 26th February 1975) was formed by Herb and Elsie Rudwick, Roy Steer, Barbara Jolly, Robert Carmichael, Janice Morvell, Jim Hill and John Ahearn; Jack and Lil Collins joined the Ballarat East Club a few years later.
The “Sebastopol Archery Club” (existed from at least October 1965 to at least March 1969).
The Ballarat Grammar School had an Archery Club from at least 1959 to 1961 (see “The Ballarat Grammarian”), and was the first school team to affiliate with the Archery Society of Victoria, and was the first school team to compete in the Victorian Archery Championships (1960 and 1961).
The “Wendouree Archery Club” used to invite the boys to shoot outdoor target and field with them, and this experience would have improved their scores.
In 1960, Wayne deGruchy from the Ballarat Grammar School won the State Intermediate target championship (setting a new record).
In 1960 the Grammar School Archery Club had 20 members, and in 1961 had 27 members.
Before Alf Robinson had come to Australia, he used to shoot with the “Cleadon Archers” (near Newcastle Upon Tyne in England).
From about 1963 on one weekend a year, the Wendouree Archery Club and the Cleadon Archers used to have a postal shoot.
If the Wendouree Club won, the WACI archers were given a Cleadon badge; and if the Cleadon Club won, the Cleadon archers were given a Wendouree badge.
Alf died in a plane crash in Asia on his way back to England.
After Alf died, there was an annual Alf Robinson Memorial shoot (18 ends [108 arrows] at 100 yards [91.44 metres] from at least 1980, known as the Cleadon round). The highest known score for this round is 713, shot in 1988.
In September 1963, 8 club members shot in the Southern Cross Clout Festival in Melbourne, with Noel Perry winning the Intermediate section (top score for a Wendouree archer was by Harry Siermans).
At the annual club target championship in March 1964, the best performance was by Noel Perry who retained his intermediate boys title, by creating a club and Victorian record for the American and Short Metropolitan shoots.
Other club records were created by Harry Siermans (Philadelphia) and Stuart Paine (junior boy’s American and Short Metropolitan).
In 1968 (Ballarat Courier 16 August) the Archery Society of Victoria awarded Jack Collins an honorary life membership for his services to archery over the previous 30 years.
A novel piece of Club history occurred on the 15th of February 1969, when David and Glenys Ludbrook were married.
When they came out of the church, there was a guard of honour of six archers (dressed in the maroon Club vest with white trousers) holding six recurve bows over the newlywed’s heads (like swords at military weddings).
In 1972, archery (Recurve) was reintroduced into the Olympic Games (Munich)
In 1982 the WACI finished second in the Victorian inter-club handicap postal shoot (held over six months, April to September.
Greg Cowin won the <15 boys section, and was 3rd in the individual handicap section.
In 1982 Greg Cowin won a silver and a bronze medal at the Victorian Junior Archery Championships, and was selected to represent Victoria in the under 15 section at the Australian National titles in Perth (January 1983).
Greg Cowin had named his dog “Arrow”.
The Club moved both indoor and outdoor venues to the Prince of Wales Park in 1979, (the indoor range was in a Nissen hut).
The first use of the new brick building as a Club House at the Prince of Wales Park was on 27th April 1985.
There was then a short time when the Club did not have an indoor venue, until the building at the airport was obtained.
The Club was incorporated on the 16th April 1985, to become the “Wendouree Archery Club Incorporated”.
In 1986, WACI held an archery competition as part of the Central Highland Games at Prince of Wales Park (shooting a “Heland” Shoot !!!!).
On the 23rd of March 1989 Ken Balfour was awarded a “Meritorious Award For Outstanding Service” to the Club.
Disaster hit the club, when in January 1993 thieves stole 7 bows, 100 arrows and the metal detector (worth $3,250), which was not insured. These bows and arrows were used to run the coaching courses, and hired out to beginners on Saturday afternoon shoots.
Philip Greenbank was made the 6th Life Member of the Club in 1997 (the first since 1969).
On the 7th to 18th of January 1997 the club hosted the 50th Annual National Archery Championships, with Indoor Ballarat Indoor Tennis Centre, Target and Clout at Victoria Park, and Field at the White Swan Reservoir.
Simon Fairweather won the Recurve Field; and Clint Freeman won the Compound Indoor, Target and Field shoots.
In 1998 the Club instituted its own achievement medal (The Eureka Star).
The Jack Collins Memorial shoot was shot in 1999.
WACI Club Presidents since the 28th of October 1950 have been:
Robert Cockerell (Ballarat RSL President 1952-53), Tom (Bud) Foley (RSL), Herb Rudwick (RSL), Jack Collins, David Rapkins, Len Hartup, David Ludbrook, Daryl Cropley, Kevin Gould, Graeme Vawdrey, Ian Marek (currently holds 8 Club records), Ken Balfour, Greg Cowan (currently holds 46 Club records), Gary Daly (currently holds 18 Club records), Vern Clark, Ian Thompson (currently holds 1 Club record), John Springfield, Shayne Brooks, Edgar Newman, Veronica Micich (currently holds 32 Club records), Steve Sommers (currently holds 1 Club record), Larry Kelly (currently holds 22 Club records), and Alwyn Kenzie (taught by Gerry Heavey, currently holds 35 club records).
Club members who have held 20 or more Club Records (non-Imperial) at one time have been: Xavier Smerdon 65, Greg Cowan 48; Veronica Micich 32, Gary Daly 31, Larry Kelly 22 and Allan Terrett 21.
The “Club Archer” on the front cover was drawn by Henry Moritz (died 2000).
The Wendouree Archery Club has for many years been the only club in Victoria which caters for all four codes of Archery - Outdoor Target, Indoor Target (18 and 25 metres), Field and Clout (about 2002 the Council banned Clout shoots at the Prince of Wales Park).
The Club has hosted numerous tournaments including the Victorian State Championships (1951, 1956, 1957, 1996), the Victorian State Field Championship (1984, 1996), the Victorian State Clout Championships (1989), the 50th Australian National Archery Championships [target, indoor, clout and field] (1997); the Victorian Masters Games (1998, 1999, 2000), and the TransTasman Challenge (2002).
On the 25th of November 2000, a get together of past and present members was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the meeting at the home of Herb and Elsie Rudwick, and to demonstrate to past members the developments in archery equipment, and that the Club was alive and well.
At this meeting were five past Club Presidents (Bud Foley, David Ludbrook, Gary Daly, Veronica Micich and Steve Sommers), and Elsie Rudwick.
In 2003 Gary Daly received a “Community Service Award” for his contributions to Archery, especially in the area of coaching young people.
In June 2003, after having had an enormous expense earlier that year to put a fence around the archery field (Prince of Wales Park), disaster happened when all ten outdoor targets were severely vandalised (the City Council helped with $2,000); and then we lost our fantastic indoor range (rent $18 a week) at the sports centre (interest and membership fell off due to lack of shoots).
2004 was spent with working bees to repair the targets, and when we were given a Nissen hut at the airport that would be our own facility, many working bees were organized to pull out the wall partitions, paint, carpet, carpentry and electrical work.
In March 2004, Gary and Chris Daly were made Life Members (the 7th and 8th) of the Wendouree Archery Club, the first since 1989.
If Jack and Lil Collins were “Mr and Mrs Archery” in the 1950s and 1960s, then Gary and Chris Daly were the “Mr and Mrs Archery of the 1990s to 2005, with their involvement in almost all facets of the running of the club.
It is said that a Professor should have three essential qualities: 1. enthusiasm, 2. a full personal knowledge of the subject, and 3. a sense of obligation to their students; - Gary and Chris Daly certainly more than fulfilled these criteria.
Many famous archers have shot at the WACI facilities; including Kevin Geyer (Australian champion in the 1950s), Coral Spry (Australian champion in the 1950s), Don Donaldson (Victorian State champion), Mike Coen (1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medalist); Allan Weston, Leigh Cornish (2nd in the World Field Archery Championships twice, 5 Australian FITA Field Championships, 4 Australian FITA Target Championships and in 1997 won the IFAA Pacific Region Field Championship), Simon Fairweather (Olympian 1988, 1992, 1996, Olympic Goldmedalist in 2000, World Archery Champion 1991; Clint Freeman (he was the first archer in the world to claim the 1400 FITA Star [1409] with a world record at each of the four distances); Jackson Fear (Olympian); James Park (Australian Compound Champion 1999, Oceania Regional Champion 1996, World Indoor Masters Champion 2002).
The “Wendouree Archery Club Inc” is affiliated to the Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc (FITA) through Archery Australia and Archery Victoria.
The Club, though small does well in competitions, and has a proud history of achievement.
WACI archers who have held Victorian State Records (for metric rounds) have been: Caitlin Anderson, Anthea Clark, GARY DALY, Greg Goossens, Philip Greenbank, James Gray, ALWYN KENZIE, VERONICA MICICH, Leonie Muir, Sarah Page, Sarah Paton, Shey Pilmore, Xavier Smerdon, Adam Terrett, Cameron Thomas and Travis Wade.
Ballarat has had an Archery Club since at least 1864 (“The Webster Street Archery Club”).
Most sports in the 1800s were the sole province of men, but in a newspaper article titled “Pioneer Women Were Archers” (Club Scrapbook – about 1956) we read:
“In 1864 Ballarat had a women’s archery club, members of which wore a
striking uniform. During the question period at last night’s meeting of the
Historical Society members were told that Ballarat’s first archery club had
sections for men and women. Women members of the Webster Street
Archery Club chose a uniform which featured green jackets, and sailor hats
banded in green to be in keeping with uniforms worn by male club
members.”
Ballarat currently has two archery clubs (“Wendouree Archery Club Inc” [WACI], and “Ballarat Bowmen”).
Ballarat has most likely had at least one archery club throughout its history since the early 1860s, with one five year period (1965-1969) where Ballarat had three archery Clubs (Wendouree Archery Club [1947 - present], Ballarat East Archery Club [28.Jul.1963 - 1975] (used to shoot in Kline Street opposite the residential home), and the Sebastopol Archery Club [1965 - 1969]).
At least one Ballarat school has also had an archery club (Ballarat and Queens Anglican Grammar [1959-1961]).
From about the late 1930s, Jack and Lil Collins (died 1995), and Don (1906-1988) and Hilda Balfour (died 1983) were the backbone of a group of archers known as “The Ballarat Archery Club”.
Jack Collins and Don Balfour had been schoolmates at Black Hill School, and they used to saw hickory pitchfork handles in half and join them in a ferrule to fashion English long bows, and arrows out of red pine.
Ken Balfour (son of Don and Hilda) claimed that archery at Wendouree had begun at least 50 years prior to 1985 (ie: at least 1935).
Of course everything was hand made – the bows, arrows, targets, quivers, finger stalls (tabs), arm shields (guards) etc.
The strings were made from cobblers yarn.
The major people making equipment were Jack Collins (the bow maker), Herb Rudwick (the arrow maker) and Ern Rudwick (the target maker).
“The Ballarat Archery Club” used to practice on a Sunday morning at the Black Hill Reserve (east of the Black Hill School), and then later on the Nerrina Reserve (north east of where Stawell Street crosses the Yarrowee Creek).
Archers from Clubs in Geelong and Melbourne used to shoot with them.
Children going home from the Methodist Church (next to the Black Hill School) used to watch the archery practice.
As it was during the Second World War, the supply of hickory dried up, so alternative timbers were tried, firstly from staves of Brigalow (some American flat bows were made from Brigalow), and then from a timber called Orange Osage, of which there was a grove at Bacchus Marsh, and another at Avoca.
These staves were sawn by Bevan James (who had the joinery in Peel Street opposite the Black Hill Hall), and the grain had to be followed, otherwise the timber would fracture.
Because the grain was followed these bows were not generally at true arc.
A further bow development was the use of animal sinews (obtained from Jack Fraser, the butcher on the corner of Peel and Chisholm Streets) which were glued to the back of flat bows with casein glue.
The earliest targets were made by Don and Hilda Balfour (and son Ron) from sheaves of straw obtained from the Chaff Mill in Doveton Street.
By the 1950s Ernie Rudwick was the target maker. The straw rope was obtained from the Berryman Grass Rope Company in Canterbury Street, Brown Hill, then club members would wind it in catherine-wheel fashion into the target size, which was then stitched together with long hay-band with very long needles, which had been made by Jack Collins (a blacksmith).
The straw was then covered with canvas, and then painted with the rings on the target-face.
A later development was painting the target onto strong tar backed brown paper (“sisalcraft” placed under iron roofs to collect condensation) in working-bees in Elsie Rudwick’s back yard).
As a variant of the usual shoot, archers would go up the hill to the paddocks (off Ida Street, at this time there was only farmland beyond the Black Hill School) and conduct “Archery Golf”, the hole being substituted by a tennis ball on a stick.
This Club had no indoor, clout or field facilities.
Several members of the “Ballarat Archery Club” later shot with the “RSL Archery Club”, and then later joined the “Wendouree Archery Club”; with Jack Collins and Ken Balfour (Don’s son) becoming Presidents of “The Wendouree Archery Club.
Other members of this Club included Ray Benn, George Bowers, Don Johnson, Gabe and Dorrie Horgan, Nancy Horgan, Stan Horgan, Norm Leddick, Norma Leddick (Nee Leeman).
“The Wendouree Archery Club” is the oldest archery club in country Victoria.
The Club traces it origins to the “RSL Archery Club” (RSLAC, formed in 1947) which supported an active membership (in 1949 it had 15 financial members), as indicated by the surviving reports (“Toxophilite”) in “Cease Fire” - the magazine of the Ballarat RSL sub-branch (1949 - April k September, 1951 - February k June).
The badge (designed by Herb Rudwick) was an archery target and crossed arrows, in the RSL shaped shield, with the RSL crown on the top.
The Archery Association of Australia was formed in 1948.
In 1949 the “RSLAC” made a request to the City Fathers for the use of the area near the zoo (north of the Botanic Gardens), which was approved.
This site was:
“ideally situated among the gums and wattle that give ample shade to those
looking on at the game.”
Non RSL members were able to participate in shoots with the “RSLAC”, but the ex-service qualifications necessary to be a member of the RSL, meant that many interested persons were not able to join and become active members of the Club.
Over time, the “RSLAC” received many inquiries from archers, friends and relations of Club members who wanted to join the Club and participate in the Club.
Gerry Heavey and Herb Rudwick were the key people in the “RSLAC” responsible for looking at the idea of forming a Club to fill the need of those non-RSL members who wanted to become Club members.
Shortly after the formation of the “RSL and Wendouree Archery Club”, Gerry Heavey (died 1994) left Ballarat for Melbourne. On the website of the Kew City Bowmen, it states that the Kew City Bowmen was founded in 1949 by the joint efforts of Don Mills and Gerry Heavey, and that Gerry Heavey was “a man who has possibly done more for archery in Victoria than anyone”.
On the 17th of November 1949, Bob Cockerell and Gerry Heavey competed in the 2nd National Archer Championships, held at the Henry Turner Memorial Reserve in Footscray.
At a meeting on Saturday the 28th of October 1950, at the home of Mr. Herb and Mrs. Elsie Rudwick (903 Urquhart Street, Ballarat), the Club’s name was changed to the “RSL and Wendouree Archery Club”, and the rules regarding membership were changed.
It is to this meeting that the Club has its first association with the name “Wendouree”.
The host was elected the Vice President.
In the February 1951 edition of “Cease Fire” it states:
“The formation of the RSL and Wendouree Archery Club with a range at
Wendouree, is another branch of sport sponsored by the sub-branch that is
an asset to the city. Under the guidance of Bob Cockerell and his band of
workers a range second to none has been made at Wendouree, and the State
Championships will be shot over it in March.”
Note: The Ballarat Courier report names the club as the “Wendouree-RSL Archery Club”. The State Championships were actually held on St. Patrick’s College Oval, and made a profit of 2 pounds 2 shillings [$4.20], which was donated, to the St. Patrick’s College Sports Fund in appreciation of assistance.
The Club’s grounds were located in a paddock at the northern end of Shelley Street (east of where the Dowling Street swimming pool is now located, beside the Wendouree (Northern) Oval, behind M.B.Johns).
This was Council land, and Herb Rudwick and Bud Foley made a deputation to Councilor Ted Brown (the Ballarat Shire President) and permission was given.
At the first shoot of the new club were many famous archers, including Don Mills, often called “The Father of Victorian Archery”, and Arthur Thomas (then President of the Archery Society of Victoria.
Jack and Lil Collins were also visitors on that day (and later joined the new club).
The Club used to conduct Field shoots at Dawson’s Dam at Snake Valley, where the archers stayed overnight in huts at the migrant camp.
The 1951 Victorian Archery Championships (held at St.Patrick’s College, Ballarat) were arranged to be held as part of the Centenary year celebrations (Gerry Heavey came back to Ballarat to be the field captain).
Before the end of 1951 “RSL” was dropped from the Club name.
The new Club Badge was designed by Herb Rudwick about 1951, and was the basic design of the club badge for almost the next 50 years.
Herb Rudwick invested much time and cost in equipment for making arrows.
Arrows were made from hand-picked Oregon (had to have a straight grain), which was sawn into squares and then turned on a lathe (with special attachments made for the job by Ern Rudwick).
The all the arrows had to be weighed, and the “spine” was checked for all the arrows.
If an arrow weighed too much it was sanded till it was the right weight.
For a long time he used 0.303 points (he got from the Army) for the arrow head.
The feathers were turkey feathers that he had to get from a turkey farm on the Bellarine Peninsula, the top feather had to be painted (by Elsie Rudwick).
Sets of a dozen arrows were made with the same weight and “spine” (arrows that Herb had made were used to win Australian Championships).
To make hunting heads Herb would remove the lead by heating it (so it would be hollow and fit the shaft of the arrow), then saw down the tip of the arrow to insert a blade arrow tip.
Herb (a perfectionist) was soon producing arrows equal to the best.
Jack Collins and his wife Lillian May (Lil) (though not RSL members), had been shooting with the RSL Archery Club since at least 1949.
Jack and Lil were present at the meeting on the 28th October 1950.
Jack and Lil are regarded as the “Father and Mother of Archery in Ballarat” (“Mr. and Mrs. Archery”).
Jack organised the first shoots with other archery clubs; and also organised hunting trips (see “Cease Fire” June 1951).
In a 1951 newspaper cutting in the Club Scrapbook is the following article:
“Injuns” If you had been out Burrumbeet way last Monday you might have been pardoned for thinking of the “Injun” days of early America. A war party of 35 braves and squaws prowled the lakeside, crept stealthily through the grass and stalked the humble bunny. They were archery championship competitors rounding off their weekend with actual field shooting. For the bunnies they were as great a menace as a bout of myxomatosis – and more sudden too. Forty of the rabbit population of Burrumbeet will never again nibble grass, and a dozen owe their quick demise to the clear eye and steady hand of a Melbourne archer. Youngest archer was 10-year-old Fay Collins, of 10 Rice Street, Ballarat. Faye was unlucky not to record a kill. Herb Rudwick, a Ballarat archer, didn’t confine himself to rabbits. He shot a three foot brown snake at twelve yards. The snake slithered through the grass, started a headlong flight down a hole, but was trapped when the arrow kept one half above the ground. He was quickly dispatched by another shaft. It was the fourth snake to fall victim to Herb’s William Tell tactics.”
The Club used to have an annual competition shoot (begun in 1953) against the Sandringham club on Ian Donaldson’s farm “Riversglen”, situated on the banks of the Moorabool River at Lethbridge (the “Riversglen Trophy”). It appears that each club sent 4 men, and 2 women.
In 1955 Bud Foley, Herb Rudwick and Jack Collins thought that bushland west of the White Swan Reservoir would be an ideal place for a Field Course.
It currently consists of two 24 target courses, set within a State forest, where archers are surrounded by a spectacular bushland setting.
It is considered one of the finest archery Field courses in Australia.
The club hosted an annual shoot at the White Swan Reservoir, which was always well attended. Newspaper reports indicate that in 1956 there were 107 archers competing; in 1961 there were 74 archers competing, in 1963 there were about 80 archers from 13 clubs shooting, in 1982 there were 65 archers from 14 clubs competing, in 1984 there were 77 archers from 13 clubs; in 1985 there were 86 archers from 15 clubs; in 1986 there were 68 archers from 12 clubs, in 1988 there were 78 archers from 11 clubs, and in 1996 there were over 60 archers.
A 1985 newspaper article claimed that the annual field shoot at Ballarat was one of the oldest events of its type in Australia.
Jack Collins was one of Australia’s leading archers.
About 1955 only two Australian archers in the previous Australian Championships had shot 600 in an American Round (Note: Alan Widmer later shot over 600).
Jack had shot 600 in Ballarat (early 1951 – club scrapbook), and in a later newspaper cutting (date unknown) he had shot 654.
Note: At this time an “all gold” was rare, and sometimes was not seen during an afternoons shooting, and if one was shot, it was worthy of mentioning in a newspaper report. About 1956 (club scrapbook) when Len Hartup shot an all gold at 40 yards (36.57 metres), it was mentioned that this was only the second time this feat had been performed by a club member. In 1964 Herb Rudwick shot an all gold at 40yards and it was the feature of a newspaper article.
Jack Collins was the first winner of the Moorabbin Shield in 1955 (instituted by the Victorian Archery Club to recognise the creation of its new ground and club house).
When Jack won the championship of the Southern Cross Club, he defeated Wal Spry (an ex-Australian champion).
Jack Collins made his own bows (and for other people as well).
Jack Collins was a “genius” blacksmith (located on the south-east corner of Camp and Mair Streets), and he was the last working blacksmith in Victoria.
Reciting poetry was one of his hobbies.
In a concert at the Melbourne Town Hall in November 1967, he recited from C.J. Dennis’ “The Sentimental Bloke” to help raise money for the Association for the Blind (Fay his daughter [see above] was later Fay Tobin).
In 1956 the club began shooting metric (in metres) rounds.
Jack Collins had shot a men’s FITA round with a barebow, with a score of 574.
In 1956, a steel bow could cost more than ₤16 (over $32), and arrows cost about 25 shillings each ($2.50). (Note: Steel bows were replaced by laminated wood and fiberglass composite bows).
Jack and Lil Collins were tireless workers for the Club, and in September 1963, they were made life members of the “Wendouree Archery Club”.
The newspaper report (Ballarat Courier 20.Sep.1963) reads:
Honors for “Mr and Mrs Archery
At the annual meeting of the Wendouree Archery Club this week, life memberships were conferred on Jack Collins and Mrs Collins, and two perpetual shields for club championships were named in their honor. The president of the club, Mr D. Rapkins, said that the couple have been Ballarat’s “Mr and Mrs Archery” for many years. They were the pioneers of the sport in Ballarat,” he said, “and it is because of the spade work done by them during the past 20 years, that we are able now to enjoy the sport under ideal conditions.”
Mr Rapkins spoke of the primitive conditions and equipment which was the lot of the early archery enthusiasts in Ballarat. “From pickhandle bows to the beautiful laminated fiberglass ones of today covered the story of Jack Collins’ contribution to the sport in Ballarat,” Mr Rapkins said.
Mr and Mrs Collins were responsible for bringing about the first State archery championships, and having them staged in Ballarat.
PUT SPORT AHEAD
“One Victorian archery official said recently, that but for Jack Collins and his wife, archery in Victoria would still be 50 years behind as a sport, “ said Mr Rapkins.
The bestowing of life memberships were the least the club could do to honor two people who had done more for the club and the sport in general, than any other two in the State. He also presented to the club two shields to be known as the Jack Collins and Lil Collins shields. They will be for perpetual competition and will be held each year by the club’s champions, man and woman.
Mr Collins said that both he and his wife appreciated the honor conferred on them.
REPAID
“It is true that we have put a lot into archery,” he said, “but we have had it returned many times through the enjoyment we have received from the sport and the friendships made throughout Australia. Archery was a wonderful sport, Mr Collins said. He had been repaid for anything he had done by seeing the rapid strides the sport had made in Victoria and Australia during the past few years.
When Lil Collins died (7th September 1995), the Club placed the following in the Ballarat Courier, which is included in the Club Scrapbook:
Passing Of A Club Legend:
It is with a heavy heart that we say our last goodbye to a grand lady, Lil Collins. A kind and gentle spirit, with just a touch of mischief surrounding her soul. In her day, Lil was a great competitor. A solid club member and a good friend to those in need. Called with affection and respect, the mother of archery in and around Ballarat. Along the way her conscientiousness earned her the honour of a Life Membership with the Archery Club. Although the current membership is far removed from Lil’s days with the club, her name still evokes awe and reverence with the members. Lil’s memory is embedded in our club history so deeply, that to us she has not left. Her spirit and love of our sport will remain with us forever. We pass our deepest and sincerest sympathies to Faye, Jim and their families on the loss of your mother. – With great sorrow, - Members of the Wendouree Archery Club.
Herb Rudwick used to teach archery of a Monday night to polio afflicted youths.
A newspaper cutting (about 1951 – during the Korean War) reads:
“Archery is one sport that is not denied disabled Barry James, 10. Mr. Herb Rudwick, of the Wendouree and RSL Archery Club, is seen showing Barry how to release an arrow. The archers are launching a campaign to bring their sport to Ballarat’s disabled youth. They have so far given two archery classes to the Ballarat Disabled Youth Club.”
There have been Indoor Archery facilities in Ballarat since at least 1949, when only the experienced archers met at 7.30 on Tuesday nights at the gunnery room at the Barracks in Curtis Street, and shot 30 yards at a 3 foot radius target with bare bows.
The “Wendouree Archery Club” has had Indoor ranges at St. Alipius Boys Hall (from 28th October 1953), Delacombe Sports Stadium, Prince of Wales Park (1979 to 1985 in an old Nissen Hut), the Airport (1985 to July 1999), the Old Mill in Hill Street (August to December 1999), the sports centre on the corner of Howitt and Doveton Streets (1st January 2000 to late 2003), and then back at the airport (since mid 2004).
The annual club field shoot was shot on Sunday the 27th November 1960 at the White Swan Field Course, consisting of 28 targets before lunch, and 28 targets after lunch. Archers were to be at their shooting lines by 9 am, to begin shooting at 9.15 am. Fees for the day were: adults 7/6 [75 cents], juniors 5/- [50 cents]. Barbeque fires were burning for those who wished to cook their own meal at lunch time, and hot water was supplied.
By the 1960s technology was changing, bows were being made of laminated woods, steel and fiberglass; arrows were made of aluminium and fiberglass.
In 1962, the Wendouree Archery Club had a field shoot at the White Swan Reservoir against the Geelong Archers for the “Agincourt Eagle” (Geelong won).
Note: In the year 1962 (according to newspaper clippings), the club held 8 field shoots at the White Swan Reservoir.
The first demonstration of a sporting skill at a meeting of the Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club was on the 2nd of May 1962 when Jack Collins gave a speech and then shot arrows into a target in the Princes Room at Craig’s Hotel in Lydiard Street.
In April 1963 Jack Collins gave a similar speech and exhibition to the Ballarat Apex Club, again in the Princes Room at Craig’s Hotel where he shot a quiver of arrows into a small target at the far end of the room to illustrate his talk.
In the 1950s and 1960s the club (from newspaper clippings) was involved in many more shoots away, and hosting visiting clubs to Ballarat, than in the 1990s – early 2000s.
In the 1950s and 1960s there are several newspaper reports of club members shooting snakes during their shoots (eg. 5.May.1962).
In 1963 a split occurred in the Club, where many members left. The new club “The Ballarat East Archery Club” (28th July 1963 to 26th February 1975) was formed by Herb and Elsie Rudwick, Roy Steer, Barbara Jolly, Robert Carmichael, Janice Morvell, Jim Hill and John Ahearn; Jack and Lil Collins joined the Ballarat East Club a few years later.
The “Sebastopol Archery Club” (existed from at least October 1965 to at least March 1969).
The Ballarat Grammar School had an Archery Club from at least 1959 to 1961 (see “The Ballarat Grammarian”), and was the first school team to affiliate with the Archery Society of Victoria, and was the first school team to compete in the Victorian Archery Championships (1960 and 1961).
The “Wendouree Archery Club” used to invite the boys to shoot outdoor target and field with them, and this experience would have improved their scores.
In 1960, Wayne deGruchy from the Ballarat Grammar School won the State Intermediate target championship (setting a new record).
In 1960 the Grammar School Archery Club had 20 members, and in 1961 had 27 members.
Before Alf Robinson had come to Australia, he used to shoot with the “Cleadon Archers” (near Newcastle Upon Tyne in England).
From about 1963 on one weekend a year, the Wendouree Archery Club and the Cleadon Archers used to have a postal shoot.
If the Wendouree Club won, the WACI archers were given a Cleadon badge; and if the Cleadon Club won, the Cleadon archers were given a Wendouree badge.
Alf died in a plane crash in Asia on his way back to England.
After Alf died, there was an annual Alf Robinson Memorial shoot (18 ends [108 arrows] at 100 yards [91.44 metres] from at least 1980, known as the Cleadon round). The highest known score for this round is 713, shot in 1988.
In September 1963, 8 club members shot in the Southern Cross Clout Festival in Melbourne, with Noel Perry winning the Intermediate section (top score for a Wendouree archer was by Harry Siermans).
At the annual club target championship in March 1964, the best performance was by Noel Perry who retained his intermediate boys title, by creating a club and Victorian record for the American and Short Metropolitan shoots.
Other club records were created by Harry Siermans (Philadelphia) and Stuart Paine (junior boy’s American and Short Metropolitan).
In 1968 (Ballarat Courier 16 August) the Archery Society of Victoria awarded Jack Collins an honorary life membership for his services to archery over the previous 30 years.
A novel piece of Club history occurred on the 15th of February 1969, when David and Glenys Ludbrook were married.
When they came out of the church, there was a guard of honour of six archers (dressed in the maroon Club vest with white trousers) holding six recurve bows over the newlywed’s heads (like swords at military weddings).
In 1972, archery (Recurve) was reintroduced into the Olympic Games (Munich)
In 1982 the WACI finished second in the Victorian inter-club handicap postal shoot (held over six months, April to September.
Greg Cowin won the <15 boys section, and was 3rd in the individual handicap section.
In 1982 Greg Cowin won a silver and a bronze medal at the Victorian Junior Archery Championships, and was selected to represent Victoria in the under 15 section at the Australian National titles in Perth (January 1983).
Greg Cowin had named his dog “Arrow”.
The Club moved both indoor and outdoor venues to the Prince of Wales Park in 1979, (the indoor range was in a Nissen hut).
The first use of the new brick building as a Club House at the Prince of Wales Park was on 27th April 1985.
There was then a short time when the Club did not have an indoor venue, until the building at the airport was obtained.
The Club was incorporated on the 16th April 1985, to become the “Wendouree Archery Club Incorporated”.
In 1986, WACI held an archery competition as part of the Central Highland Games at Prince of Wales Park (shooting a “Heland” Shoot !!!!).
On the 23rd of March 1989 Ken Balfour was awarded a “Meritorious Award For Outstanding Service” to the Club.
Disaster hit the club, when in January 1993 thieves stole 7 bows, 100 arrows and the metal detector (worth $3,250), which was not insured. These bows and arrows were used to run the coaching courses, and hired out to beginners on Saturday afternoon shoots.
Philip Greenbank was made the 6th Life Member of the Club in 1997 (the first since 1969).
On the 7th to 18th of January 1997 the club hosted the 50th Annual National Archery Championships, with Indoor Ballarat Indoor Tennis Centre, Target and Clout at Victoria Park, and Field at the White Swan Reservoir.
Simon Fairweather won the Recurve Field; and Clint Freeman won the Compound Indoor, Target and Field shoots.
In 1998 the Club instituted its own achievement medal (The Eureka Star).
The Jack Collins Memorial shoot was shot in 1999.
WACI Club Presidents since the 28th of October 1950 have been:
Robert Cockerell (Ballarat RSL President 1952-53), Tom (Bud) Foley (RSL), Herb Rudwick (RSL), Jack Collins, David Rapkins, Len Hartup, David Ludbrook, Daryl Cropley, Kevin Gould, Graeme Vawdrey, Ian Marek (currently holds 8 Club records), Ken Balfour, Greg Cowan (currently holds 46 Club records), Gary Daly (currently holds 18 Club records), Vern Clark, Ian Thompson (currently holds 1 Club record), John Springfield, Shayne Brooks, Edgar Newman, Veronica Micich (currently holds 32 Club records), Steve Sommers (currently holds 1 Club record), Larry Kelly (currently holds 22 Club records), and Alwyn Kenzie (taught by Gerry Heavey, currently holds 35 club records).
Club members who have held 20 or more Club Records (non-Imperial) at one time have been: Xavier Smerdon 65, Greg Cowan 48; Veronica Micich 32, Gary Daly 31, Larry Kelly 22 and Allan Terrett 21.
The “Club Archer” on the front cover was drawn by Henry Moritz (died 2000).
The Wendouree Archery Club has for many years been the only club in Victoria which caters for all four codes of Archery - Outdoor Target, Indoor Target (18 and 25 metres), Field and Clout (about 2002 the Council banned Clout shoots at the Prince of Wales Park).
The Club has hosted numerous tournaments including the Victorian State Championships (1951, 1956, 1957, 1996), the Victorian State Field Championship (1984, 1996), the Victorian State Clout Championships (1989), the 50th Australian National Archery Championships [target, indoor, clout and field] (1997); the Victorian Masters Games (1998, 1999, 2000), and the TransTasman Challenge (2002).
On the 25th of November 2000, a get together of past and present members was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the meeting at the home of Herb and Elsie Rudwick, and to demonstrate to past members the developments in archery equipment, and that the Club was alive and well.
At this meeting were five past Club Presidents (Bud Foley, David Ludbrook, Gary Daly, Veronica Micich and Steve Sommers), and Elsie Rudwick.
In 2003 Gary Daly received a “Community Service Award” for his contributions to Archery, especially in the area of coaching young people.
In June 2003, after having had an enormous expense earlier that year to put a fence around the archery field (Prince of Wales Park), disaster happened when all ten outdoor targets were severely vandalised (the City Council helped with $2,000); and then we lost our fantastic indoor range (rent $18 a week) at the sports centre (interest and membership fell off due to lack of shoots).
2004 was spent with working bees to repair the targets, and when we were given a Nissen hut at the airport that would be our own facility, many working bees were organized to pull out the wall partitions, paint, carpet, carpentry and electrical work.
In March 2004, Gary and Chris Daly were made Life Members (the 7th and 8th) of the Wendouree Archery Club, the first since 1989.
If Jack and Lil Collins were “Mr and Mrs Archery” in the 1950s and 1960s, then Gary and Chris Daly were the “Mr and Mrs Archery of the 1990s to 2005, with their involvement in almost all facets of the running of the club.
It is said that a Professor should have three essential qualities: 1. enthusiasm, 2. a full personal knowledge of the subject, and 3. a sense of obligation to their students; - Gary and Chris Daly certainly more than fulfilled these criteria.
Many famous archers have shot at the WACI facilities; including Kevin Geyer (Australian champion in the 1950s), Coral Spry (Australian champion in the 1950s), Don Donaldson (Victorian State champion), Mike Coen (1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games bronze medalist); Allan Weston, Leigh Cornish (2nd in the World Field Archery Championships twice, 5 Australian FITA Field Championships, 4 Australian FITA Target Championships and in 1997 won the IFAA Pacific Region Field Championship), Simon Fairweather (Olympian 1988, 1992, 1996, Olympic Goldmedalist in 2000, World Archery Champion 1991; Clint Freeman (he was the first archer in the world to claim the 1400 FITA Star [1409] with a world record at each of the four distances); Jackson Fear (Olympian); James Park (Australian Compound Champion 1999, Oceania Regional Champion 1996, World Indoor Masters Champion 2002).
The “Wendouree Archery Club Inc” is affiliated to the Federation Internationale de Tir a l’Arc (FITA) through Archery Australia and Archery Victoria.
The Club, though small does well in competitions, and has a proud history of achievement.
WACI archers who have held Victorian State Records (for metric rounds) have been: Caitlin Anderson, Anthea Clark, GARY DALY, Greg Goossens, Philip Greenbank, James Gray, ALWYN KENZIE, VERONICA MICICH, Leonie Muir, Sarah Page, Sarah Paton, Shey Pilmore, Xavier Smerdon, Adam Terrett, Cameron Thomas and Travis Wade.
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