John Sheridan, a 45-year member of the Field and Game Association, was recently presented with a life membership of the Shepparton club by City of Greater Shepparton Councillor Steven Threlfall at the club’s Dhurringile shooting ground.
He was instrumental in the establishment of the ground when first leased from the Shire of Rodney in 1990, then later purchased, extended and developed after a successful fundraising.
“We lived over in Benalla for a few years and then we came back here,” Sheridan said.
“I started shooting over there and then when I came back here, there was a club but there was no shooting ground.
“Things were going on; they were trying to take our guns off us, et cetera, but the club got quite strong and we ended up developing the ground out at Dhurringile.”
Sheridan joined the Shepparton club in 1985 and has been one of the key stakeholders in the Dhurringile shooting site ever since.
It has gone on to host elite events such as the Oceania Shooting Championships in 2022, nailing down a status as one of Victoria’s premier venues.
Though his involvement has tapered off slightly in recent years, Sheridan is rapt to see the ground going strong in 2025.
“It’s terrific — it came from an old hole in the ground because it was just an old quarry that we ended up going to,” he said.
“It’s now probably one of the best grounds in the country.
“I haven’t been heavily involved in the last 10-15 years — but just to see it keep going on and on, it’s really good.”
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