2025 Range Officers- BA Shooting Range at Whisky Flat, Mt Hotham

Dear Biathlon Family Australia,

Biathlon Australia (BA) Whiskey Flat Range Standing Orders require a BA endorsed Range Officer to be present for shooting activity to take place. 

Members that have provided the Executive Officer with a BA Board recognised valid Range Officer accreditation (issued in the last five years) and have been endorsed by the BA Board as 2025 BA Club Level Range Officers are:

2025 BA Club Level Range Officers:

·      Paul Connor

·      Bob Cranage

·      Robert Findlay

·      Paul Garai

·      Murray Johnson

·      Samuel Martin

·      Nym McCann

·      Cameron Morton

·      Selina Morton

·      Toscha Stopar

·      Lynn-Maree Cullen

·      Ian Neuhaus

BA members with valid Shooting Australia Range Officer accreditations (issued by National Rifle Association of Australia or Target Rifle Australia) or with valid Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Range Officer accreditations should forward them to the Executive Officer at executiveofficer@biathlonaustralia.com.au for BA Board endorsement consideration.

Biathlon Australia's Competition Range Officers are Paul Garai, Ian Neuhaus, and Stephen Meehan.

Paul Connor and Toscha Stopar have been appointed 2025 Range Managers for the winter season at Whiskey Flat, Mount Hotham. This is Paul and Toscha’s fourth year in the Range Manager role. We thank them both for again taking on the important Range Manager role from their Dinner Plain base.

***** ATTENTION FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDERS ******

Rifles must not be left unattended on the shooting range or outside direct eye sight of the Range under any circumstances regardless if they have no magazines loaded. Rifles observed to be left unattended will be removed from the Range and locked away.

Athletes, coaches, parents: as part of your dry fire individual and collective safety precautions do not forget to ensure ammunition is removed from all magazines before commencing any dry fire activities. Then double check and get a second opinion if possible. There is a greater than 0% chance that some live ammunition will be overlooked especially during training camps and around events and competitions, even professional biathlon athletes are not immune. Remember Dry Practice Usually Happens in Areas Not Optimised for Live Fire. Everything we do with firearms imposes some risk to self, and to others. You are responsible – legally, financially, and ethically – for every single round that leaves your muzzle, whether you intended to fire or not. If you dry practice, do so safely!

With the 2025 winter season upon us, BA would like to remind members of their obligations to keep BA up to date with their firearms licences used for biathlon. Your licence must be valid (within expiry) to be on the range and to enter events. If you have renewed your firearms licence in the last 12 months you should contact BA at executiveofficer@biathlonaustralia.com.au to ensure BA has an accurate record of your compliance with firearms legislation.

We look forward to seeing more of you back on the range for the 2025 winter season soon.

David, Sandy, Brett, Libby, Katerina, Kate, Mark, and Murray