By Renee Wood
Extreme flooding hit the Melbourne Gun Club in Yering last week, with the clubrooms and grounds still underwater and having suffered major damage.
Club treasurer Ben Reed said the extent of the damages is unknown but the cost is estimated to be around half a million dollars.
“It’s still only accessible by boat, so we don’t know the full extent but it’s going to be pretty bad because it just went up over a metre in inside,” Mr Reed said.
All of the grounds at the not-for-profit club are completely underwater and all goods are expected to have been lost due to floodwaters.
The club will be closed for several months as a working committee starts to rally volunteers and labourers to prepare for what’s to come.
“I was devastated – everyone has just been in shocked. I’m sure there’s been a few tears with people by themselves, because it’s really just destroyed everything,” he said.
A fundraiser will be launched with a goal of $75,000 – the cost of restoring just one of the grounds and the machinery needed.
The club has eight grounds which are underwater.
“It’s [the fundraiser] going to be critical to the club, because we’re a non profit club so any money that the club makes, we just put it back into the facilities for the shooters, that’s always been our priority.”
The club has been in the region since 1965 and has over 600 members – running junior training events, disability programs, and hosts Olympic and high-performance shooters.
It’s well known across the country and overseas as a premium venue.
Already, Victorian clubs have started throwing their support behind them, raising donations through raffles and other means.
“It’s really part of the community and so many people know about Melbourne here, we have an incredible reputation in Australia as a whole and overseas.”
There’s hope it will be open for the Yarra Valley Classic in February.
“Everybody comes from everywhere, so that’s our largest shoot for the year. We will be doing our best to have that event up and operational and have a great day for everyone.”
