QRA Museum

23/09/2026

🇦🇺 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓. On 11 November 2026, we gather at the Armistice Centenary War Memorial at Belmont to remember those who served, those who sacrificed, and those who never came home.

Among them were our r***emen - men who stepped away from the range, from their families, their mates and their communities, and went to war. Some returned. Some did not.

Their stories are part of our story. Following the Remembrance Day Service, the 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀, providing an opportunity to step inside the history of our Association and remember the r***emen who answered the call of duty.

31/08/2026

Generations have always shared the mound at the QLD State Championships. Percy Gartner first competed at the QRA Queens in 1949, but it wasn’t until 1963 that he claimed his first major victory - taking home the prestigious Number One Queensland R***e Association Queens Prize Badge after a dramatic shoot-off against Geoff Abel. It was also the last Queens shot at Enoggera.

Over the years, Percy became a true legend of the sport, competing in a remarkable 58 consecutive QRA Queens - a record that will stand tall for years to come.

While 1963 marked a major milestone, one of the most memorable moments came in 1990 during the 100th QRA Queens Prize. That year, three generations of the Gartner family - Percy, his son Greg, and grandson Matthew - stood side-by-side on the mound, proudly continuing a family tradition in one of the sport’s most historic events.

📸 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝗥𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲. (QRA Museum)

The heart and soul of our sport isn't just about scores and badges - it’s about the people, the traditions, and the generations who share the mound, the memories, and the love of our sport.

31/08/2026

165 YEARS. ONE GREAT LEGACY. 🇦🇺🎯

For 165 years, the Queensland R***e Association has been part of Queensland’s story.

Generations have stood on these ranges. Champions have been made, friendships forged, families brought together and traditions passed from one generation to the next. What we have today is built on the shoulders of those who came before us.

That’s why it was so special to see Jarrod Bleijie MP at the 2026 King’s presentation, recognising Albert Central R***e Club’s champion, Shane Abood.

From the earliest days of organised r***e shooting in Queensland to today’s competitors standing on the range, the thread remains the same - competition, camaraderie, community and a deep respect for our heritage.

We don't simply preserve history by looking backwards.

We preserve it by continuing it.
Supporting our sport. Supporting our clubs. Supporting the next generation. Preserving 165 years of Queensland r***e history for the generations still to come.

165 years behind us. A legacy worth protecting. A future worth building. 🇦🇺🏆

Celebrating 165 years of the Queensland R***e Association and a proud week of State Championships competition at the Belmont Shooting Complex.

From the Queen’s Prize at Victoria Park in 1878 to today’s King’s Prize, the QRA has played an important role in Queensland’s sporting history.

With more than 300 competitors taking part, congratulations to all the shooters and event winners.

We’re proud to support the QRA and the future of sport shooting in Queensland as we work towards a lasting 2032 Games legacy.

30/08/2026

It's great to see our history - even better to 'feel' it first hand and listen to the stories of yesteryear. What a story - one certainly worth the telling.

Reunited after 35 years!

Merve "Skip" Reuter pictured with the Bullwinkel Cup. The trophy was awarded for "Best 15 shoots" so there was a bit of extra dedication required to win... certainly no Cinderella award.

To put it in perspective, that's 375 competition rounds minimum per year.

Skip won the Bullwinkel Cup a few times.

M.Reuter 1971
M.Reuter 1977
M.Reuter 1979-1980
M.Reuter 1980-1981
M.Reuter 1981-1982
M.Reuter 1982-1983
M.Reuter 1983-1984
M.Reuter 1987-1988
M.Reuter 1988-1989

12/08/2026

What an honour it has been to walk through the QRA Museum this evening. ❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped bring our history and heritage to life. Walking through the museum is like stepping back through time - seeing how our sport has evolved and, more importantly, remembering the many people who have shaped it along the way.

It was a privilege to listen to the volunteers and hear the stories behind the displays. It’s so much more than a tour; it’s a place to pause, reflect and appreciate the generations who have been part of our sport over the past 165 years.

If you’re at the Queensland State Championships, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the museum. Take a little time out, wander through the past and discover the stories that helped shape our future.

📍 QRA Museum
🕓 Open 4pm–7pm each evening

Well worth the visit. 🏆📖

05/08/2026

Lieutenant-Colonel Ken Hutchison, (Staff Officer for Queensland's R***e Clubs) helped organise a ladies match for the QRA's 1901 King's - the first Australian state r***e association to include women at the King's or Queen's.

Miss Lizzie Savage, the daughter of Sergeant-Major Michael Savage, caretaker of the Toowong Range, began competing for the Queensland English R***e Club - being Queensland's first, registered, female r***e club competitor.

At the King's in 1901, Miss Savage won the QRA's first Ladies Match in front of what was considered the 'biggest crowd of spectators that ever, perhaps, watched a r***e match in Queensland'.

03/08/2026

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵. 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿... 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗼.

Take Rob Rush. He's taken his skill to the world stage and stood among the very best. He's won titles, earned respect, and built a legacy that stretches far beyond the scoreboard.

Yet, for all the success, Rob never loses sight of what matters most. He treasures the history of Ipswich & District R***e Club, celebrates the people who have shaped our sport, and continues to champion fullbore shooting and those who make it special, right across Australia.

That's the beauty of our sport. Great champions aren't remembered only for what they win, but for what they give back.

Long after the scores are forgotten, it's the stories, the friendships, and the people who ensure history keeps being written.

Only a couple of years ago, at the 2024 QRA Champion of Champions, he delivered a target r***e masterclass over 600, 900 and 1000 yards. Dropping just two points for an outstanding 198.24, he claimed victory at every distance (75.8, 50.7 and 73.9) to be crowned Champion ahead of current NQRA King's Champion, Shane Abood (196.20).

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟲𝟬𝘀, and Rob was simply a young junior - much like Zyden Wiid today. Eager. Talented. Dreaming big. Ready to take on the world.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹. Unlike many sports, our history doesn't live only in books or museums. It lives on the firing mound. Some competitors carry stories that began in the late 1800s. Others first picked up a r***e in the middle of the last century. Today, our newest generation stands shoulder to shoulder with those who helped shape the modern era of fullbore shooting.

Where else do generations meet like this? So take the time to share the stories. Listen. Learn. Ask the questions. One day, today's juniors will be the ones telling the next generation what it was like.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻. We look forward to welcoming you at the QRA Museum during the State Championships. Open 4-7pm during the Duncan Memorial and King's!
❤️ Gotta love this sport.

03/08/2026

We have always been proud of what our Queensland R***e Teams have achieved over the years. There have been so many shooters who've called Queensland their home (from the city to the county).

In 1951, the Qld R***e Team in Perth (September) were winners of the Commonwealth and Gordon Highlanders Matches. That's 3/4 of a century ago - it sounds a long time when you say it out loud!

Captions on photos.

03/08/2026

North Arm R***e Club has a very long history - and what great photos from 70 years ago.

The North Arm R***e Club (NARC) was originally called the North Arm Toolburra Club from it’s opening in 1914 until the 1960’s. The official opening of the club was not until the mid 1920’s when the war was over. The opening was held in the cow shed of the dairy farm where the range was located.

Club fees in 1916 were ten shillings. This same year members started to subscribe to a telephone fund, but it was a long wait until the Magneto, crank-up phone arrived at the butts in the 1940’s. In 1937 George Davison’s daughter Nellie aged 14, was hired by her father along with a young man named Les Taege to mark targets. They used glue to patch bullet holes made from plain flour and cold water mixed in a peach tin with hot water then added to thicken, and then applied with their fingers. This stick process continued the early 1950’s when patch were cut from old bullseyes with a steel punch.

The NARC was one of many clubs that made up the Lilly District. Others were Nambour, Yandina, Pomona, Cooran, Mooloo, Gympie, Kandanga and Miva Clubs. The Nambour R***e Club’s range closed in 1948 and relocated to North Arm where they are located today. They brought with them two targets which meant the range had six targets at 300, 500 and 600 yards.

Photos: North Arm Toolburra - Lilley R***e Team 1955 and 1956

02/08/2026

📜 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁.

A huge thank you to Scott, a passionate historian from the Isis/Bundaberg region, for sharing these wonderful snippets from the history of the Cordalba R***e Club.

📰 𝗜𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 – 𝟮𝟰 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟲
"The Cordalba R***e Club has won the handsome Cup which was jointly purchased by Childers and Cordalba R***e Clubs for competition between the two clubs, and by their wins in the years 1924, 1925 and 1926, the Cordalba Club has won the trophy outright."

🏆 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 – 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘆 & 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻
This prestigious Challenge Shield was once housed at the Commercial Hotel and records victories by:
• Childers – 1923
• Cordalba – 1929, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1942 and 1948

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - kindly supplied by Jim Breeze regarding Cordalba R***e Club (see captions on photos)

These are the stories that bring our history to life. They're more than trophies and newspaper clippings - they're family memories, friendships and a legacy that spans generations.

Take a close look at the photos and the names recorded. You never know... you might recognise a face, a family name, or have another piece of the puzzle tucked away somewhere.

Together, we're ensuring these stories are never lost.

***eAssociation ***eShootingHistory ***eClub ***eClub