north east regional extra | February 17 -23, 2021
nemedia.com.au
1.
February 17 -23, 2021
Back to the bench
◆ READY TO FIRE: 84 year old shooter Marge Clarke shooting bench rest .22. PHOTO: Belinda Harrison
By NATHAN DE VRIES MARGE Clarke has spent her 84 years of life being active, whether she’s doing aerobics, fun runs, fishing or especially shooting. Born in 1936, Marge was shooting from a young age. “I started when I was a teenager, I used to go out with my then-boyfriend shooting rabbits around Epping and all around
that area,” she said. “I’ve always had a rifle on the farm, you’d always need one. “When my husband Tom and I moved to Porepunkah in 1960 we took up shooting .303, and we joined the rifle club up there in Bright. “That was more than 50 years ago.” Marge was pregnant with her fourth child at the time, and when she couldn’t lie down on
her belly to shoot anymore, she walked away from the sport for good. After raising their four children, Marge and her husband decided to adventure along the east coast of Australia with a caravan. Together they went as far south as Wilson’s Promontory and as far north as Cape York, exploring and being active for as long as they could.
Marge recalls the day they visited Uluru, the wind had stopped anyone from climbing. “It was closed so we walked all around it rather than climb on it,” she said. “Then when we got back to the spot, the wind had dropped so we were allowed to go up.” Marge was too tired by then so stayed at the bottom, but Tom went part way up before deciding he was too tired too.
After two and a half years with the caravan the pair settled in Queensland, but eventually Tom’s health started to deteriorate. “When my husband started getting ill, we decided to come back here to Victoria, closer to family,” she said. Sadly, Tom passed away 12 months ago, after 64 wonderful years together. “The husband and I have
had a very good life together; we’ve travelled around Australia,” Marge said. “I enjoy fishing and all those activities, I’ve done a lot of aerobics, a lot of fun runs; I just like sport in general.” After Marge moved to Wangaratta she wanted to do an activity, and looked through council for information on clubs and hobbies for senior citizens.
Ŷ
Continued page 6
YOUR GARDEN
ANIMAL CARE
WINE TALK
YOUR HEALTH
GONE FISHING
with HELEN
with ODIN
with ANITA
with SOPHIE & BELINDA
with ROB
Let’s help our local community build back better. Take out a WAW insurance policy and receive a $50 voucher to spend with a local business. Visit wawcu.com.au for more information. Normal underwriting T&Cs apply.
Image featuring Paula from Yack Creek Distillery