PASSION FOR HISTORY: By DION TEASDALE
A HISTORICAL account of rifle clubs in the Yarra Valley has been praised by the State Government.
The publication, Rifle Clubs of the Yarra Valley A Historical Perspective from 1885 2000, was commended in the Victorian Community Heritage Awards.
Historian David Rapley spent three years researching and documenting the history of the 19 rifle clubs in the Yarra Valley in the past 115 years.
Mr Rapley, who lived in The Patch and Monbulk for 35 years before moving to Bunyip three years ago, said the book project evolved out of his passion for sport and history.
“I started to write a brief history of Upper Yarra Rifle Club when I was a member there and quickly found that no one had collated the history of clubs in the area,” he said.
“As I made my way through the Upper Yarra club’s history I discovered the history of other clubs was intertwined and I found myself researching the history of 19 clubs.”
Mr Rapley uncovered many fascinating stories and facts as he worked his way through the clubs’ history.
“The Victorian Rifle Association, which was formed in 1860, is one of the oldest sporting bodies in the country,” he said.
“It grew out of moves by the state government of the 1850s to build up its own defence force. Every ablebodied man in Victoria was trained to use a military weapon and the government provided rifle ranges.”
Mr Rapley said a large number of ranges were built in the Upper Yarra area, in places as far afield as Healesville, Yarra Glen, Lilydale, Olinda, Emerald and Christmas Hills.
“The sport of rifle shooting grew in popularity throughout the late 1800s and by 1914, when the sport was at its peak, there were over 56,000 rifle club members across the country,” Mr Rapley said.
“The sport was so popular in Victoria that a rifle team represented the state in the UK well before a cricket team was ever sent overseas.”
Mr Rapley hopes the book, which will be placed in libraries across the Yarra Valley, will be a valuable resource for those interested in the sport.
“I hope some locals who have an interest in rifle clubs, or who had a family member who was involved in one, will get something out of the book,” he said.
“It tells the story of each of the Yarra Valley rifle clubs using a combination of historical records, photographs and descriptions of the life and achievements of each club.”
Mr Rapley, who paid the publishing costs, said he was delighted to receive the commendation from the Victorian Community Heritage Awards.
“When I was presented with the commendation at the Melbourne Town Hall earlier this year I just smiled. It made the hard work worthwhile,” he said.
People interested in a copy of Mr Rapley’s history can contact him via email at rapleydbigpond.com.
Anyone interested in finding out more about rifle shooting can contact Lilydale Rifle Club on 9723 3005 or the Upper Yarra Rifle Club on 9874 7326.
