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Newcastle - Lake Macquarie Clay Target Club, New South Wales, Australia.

Newcastle - Lake Macquarie Clay Target Club originated in 1947, named "Shortland Gun Club". The original location was in swampland and 12-15 members attended each shoot. Ammunition was made by using mine fuse for powder and knocking the primer back out with a nail to be refilled with match head material. In 1950 the club moved to an adjoining property and then to Searle's Dairy. A tent was used for the office/clubhouse/bar and there was one hand trap in use.
In 1955, 31 members were sent to the National Titles in Melbourne. The team won 11 major placings. These National Titles were held for the selection of the Australian Olympic Team for Melbourne 1956.
In 1956 Danny Mott (inventor of Damo traps) and Stewart Mordue organised the club's move to Merewether on Hunter District Water Board land, where it was renamed Newcastle Gun Club. The site initially had one manual snipe trap, then two Damo traps were added. The first woman member was allowed to join the club.
During the 1960s and 70s the club installed a skeet layout and remained at the Merewether grounds until 1991. There had been pressure for them to move which they had resisted for six years, but were eventually evicted by the State Environment Minister as the land had become part of coastal parkland.
In November 1991 the club relocated to the Awaba site. The first competition on the new gounds was held with two DTL and 2 skeet layouts. The official opening was on March 21st 1992.
The current grounds now cater for Down-the-Line, American skeet, Olympic skeet, Olympic Trap and Simulated Field, with regular major and local competitions.

Extract from the Newcastle Herald, March 9th 1998:
Diamond Sparkles to Claim Zone Title
Atlanta Olympic gold medallist Michael Diamond produced incredible form to win the Northern NSW Zone Championships trap title at the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie Clay Target Club yesterday.
Diamond and several other members of the Australian team converged at Awaba over the weekend to use the titles as a warm-up for the World Cup in Cairo. Officials were amazed at Diamond's proficiency throughout the weekend as he handled winds gusting to 60 kph."The targets were going all over the place; it was very windy," club secretary Chris Lindsay said last night. Diamond scored 140 from a possible 150 to win the trap division, with 19 year old Tamworth shooter, George Burton, taking out the Olympic skeet. Armidale's Geoff Lancaster won the double trap with 135 from a possible 150.
Diamond told the Newcastle Herald he hadn't done much preparation for Cairo and would just take it as it comes.
"Mate, I'm not taking this too seriously, I'll just see how it goes," Diamond said."That's the approach I've always taken. It seems to have worked so far."
While Diamond didn't win the double trap event, which he is currently learning, the laid-back gold medallist from Goulburn was just happy to be in Newcastle. "The last time I came to Newcastle was just before the World Titles in Munich in 1993 and after shooting here (Awaba) I went to Germany and shot a personal best,"he said.
"Maybe Newcastle's my lucky charm."

Newcastle - Lake Macquarie Clay Target Club have taken the opportunity to be involved in e-Shoot and show their support.
Kevin Lonsdale says,"We intend to get some of our social shooters involved to try and encourage more people to take on competition. As a result our scores will suffer so please take it easy on us!"
(Well we think coming 8th with 706 in e-Shoot 2002 was a very good effort - well done. Ed)
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