THE East Central District Rifle Association (ECDRA) Inc and the Nagambie Rifle Club Inc will receive funding through the State Governments Shooting Sports Facilities Program grant. The clubs are among 18 throughout the region to receive the boost, recently announced by Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria). The ECDRA are set to receive $11,112 to install an international standard target electronic system and upgrade range facilities consistent with the demands of current and future precision shooting standards and community expectations. This will help the club to encourage all age groups to use firearms safely and responsibly, reduce the risks associated with manual target operation and facilitate active participation in the sport. The Nagambie Rifle Club, who focus on precision long range target shooting using Commonwealth Games standard targets at ranges of 300 yards, 500 yards and 600 yards, will receive $17,494. The club was established in 1880 and is one of the oldest long range target shooting clubs in Victoria. An affiliate of the Goulburn Valley Rifle Association and the peak bodies the Victorian Rifle Association and the National Rifle Association of Australia, the club caters for male and female junior, senior and veteran target shooters and teaches and encourages all age groups to use firearms safely and responsibly, and facilitates active participation in the sport by all. Provision is made at the range for people with disabilities to actively participate in the sport. The grants will help the clubs to improve safety, recruit new members, better accommodate people of all abilities and strengthen pathways from the grassroots level to the elite arena. Ms Symes said that the grant will ensure that clubs in Strathbogie and Nagambie have the resources and the facilities they need to become more inclusive and sustainable. We want our sports clubs to be safe, modern and welcoming to all members no matter their ability, their gender or where they live, she said.