By Dongyun Kwon
Melbourne Gun Club (MGC) has born one more shooter representing Australia.
MGC committee member Elizabeth Schroeter has been selected for the team Australia by Shooting Australia for the ISSF Grand Prix in Taipei in September.
Schroeter said she would like to enjoy her first international competition.
“My goal of the competition would be to win hopefully, but to get experience and do my best ability to represent Australia,” she said.
“I’m very honoured and proud to represent my country.”
It didn’t take a long time for her to get good shooting skills.
She started to get into the sport in 2018 through one of her friends.
“When I first met him, it was in 2018 and I just watched the Commonwealth Games,” Schroeter said.
“I’d always watch the trap shooting in the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games, and I mentioned to him that I found it very interesting and I’d love to try it out but I don’t know how I’d get into the sport.
“He asked me to come over to the MGC.”
She’s been training a couple of days a week for a few hours of shooting sessions and has also been competing in competitions mostly Saturdays to feel the pressure of the competition.
“I’ll do different clay target disciplines as well because every type of shooting you do makes sure overall a better shooter,” Schroeter said.
“Exposure to competition makes you mentally tougher because once you have mastered the technical side of shooting, and you’ve got the gun that fits you, the rest is the mental part.”
Schroeter joined the MGC in July 2018 and has been interested in helping the club run by volunteers.
She served the club as a secretary for three years and is now a committee member.
The shooter said shooting is a sport that people from all walks of life can enjoy.
“One of the other reasons I did get into it is because I’ve had spinal surgery,” Schroeter said.
“I used to do a lot of active sports but due to my spinal surgery, I was looking for a sport that I could do without putting a strain on my back.
“People from all ages with all abilities can participate in this sport.”