Origins. . .

The Westmere MRC opened in 1936 and quickly became a centre for the local families, especially during World War 2, when even the womenfolk felt it necessary to hone up on their shooting. Tales were told of continuing to shoot during power cuts by the strategic placing of lanterns. The Club also held outdoor shoots on land in Western Line road. Mrs. Yvonne cave nee Anderson is our oldest surviving member having started shooting during the war as a teenager and rapidly becoming a very good shot.

I first had a shoot while still at school in 1951 but didn't join up until 1981.

In 1951 members reclined on straw palliasse as a shooting mound. The card games in a side room off the hall were a popular attraction.

When I joined in 1981 the Club shot a season at the Okoia range while the new range was being completed. Several members advanced funds so that the range could be built, funds which were repaid by money raised from collecting, cutting up and selling kanuka firewood - Summertime working bees using Eric Stanfield's truck and contacts to harvest and cart to Duncan Laird's where the logs were sawn to blocks and sold by trailer load.

In 1986 a 50th anniversary celebration was held. Unfortunately quite a few of those present as per the photo at the time are no longer with us.

Over the years Westmere has contributed fully to the life of small-bore shooting in the Wanganui district and beyond both on a competitive level and administratively with member prominent in District rep teams and NZ teams. Members also shouldered the "behind the scenes" roles without which no sport succeeds.