Marconi Clay Target Club was formed in 1961 at a meeting in the Marconi Club at Bossley Park by Argo Benedetti, Paolo Gei, Anthony Romanello, George Calderan, Tony Dotto, Zaferino (Zed) Del Ben and Celeste Bortolin.
Marconi was the idea of Argo Benedetti who got together with friends to give field shooters and hunters the opportunity to shoot at the weekends; they affiliated with the ACTA immediately and Argo Benedetti was elected the first President.
During the first few years, Marconi shot at what is now the SSAA Range at Silverdale, using a hand trap that they took home after the shoots. These were held monthly and comprised about 15 -20 members, their wives and children, mostly Italians from Trieste, Udine and Friuli in the North of Italy a family affair with BBQ.
Marconi moved to Hawkesbury Gun Club at Windsor and continued to shoot once a month. The Hawkesbury Gun Club had their own machines and Marconi hired the grounds for the day and purchased the targets from Hawkesbury.
The early 70’s saw Marconi shooting at the Royal Aero Club situated at Bankstown, still on a once a month basis. In the mid 70’s the Royal Aero Club House burnt down with the takings (as the premises was licensed) being stolen. In addition to growing public complaints about noise from night shoots Royal Aero ceased to shoot.
Hence Marconi Clay Target Club and Sydney Clay Target Club joined forces on the grounds at Heathcote Road, Lucas Heights in the mid 1970’s.
(The above history is based on the recollections of Paolo and Fulvia Gei)
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Early Days at Heathcote Road, Lucas Heights
Marconi Clay Target Club came to the grounds at Heathcote Road, Lucas Heights in early 1976. Sydney Clay Target Club had recently moved there from Waterfall and had already cleared an area of land to accommodate three down the line traps and built a small clubhouse and generator room. The first shoot run by the Sydney/Marconi Complex was a section of the 76/77 Winchester Cup Tournament held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March 1977 which included the first Saturday night shoot. The nine months leading up to this shoot there was substantial work carried out by mostly voluntary labour (except the plumbing and electrical work)
- Installation of permanent generator (previously 2 small portable generators were brought to the grounds each shoot by Barry Casey)
- Enlarging the clubhouse with two septic toilets and 2x1,000 gallon underground water tanks to store water from the clubhouse roof and commencement on digging the dam to fill tanks during the dry spells
- Installation of poles and lights on two traps
The following are a few of the people (some still shooting now) and what they did for the grounds.
Ray Lucre and Barry Casey organised the purchase and installation of the first permanent generator, also the construction and installation of the steel security door on the generator room.
Johhny Nascimben and Angelo Lucchese did the concrete slab in front of the original clubhouse.
Leni Crema with a hired 8 ton tipper and hired backhoe with operator dug the foundations, slab area and moved the soil to fill in the hole between the clubhouse and the generator room. They also started the dam which has been enlarged many times since.
Mr Zeff Del Ben, son Artie and Zeff’s business partner Angelo Lucchese took on the responsibility of moving the colourbond roof to cover the slab in front of the clubhouse. Zeff also supplied and fitted three steel doors. Johhny Nascimben was involved in the concrete pours, with Tony Dotto supplying and operating the concrete pump.
Peter Santarossa, Cec Bortolin and Mario Casetta also did labouring work, form work and steel fixing.
Mario Galli carried out the electrical work for a nominal fee.
Joe Zadro did the plumbing, drainage and septic system for a nominal fee.
2nd hand lights purchased from Royal Aero Gun Club.
The poles were obtained by Jim Miatt and transported to the grounds by Barry Kable.
Johhny Nascimben, Angelo Lucchese, Leni Crema and Barry Casey put up the poles with a borrowed backhoe from the plumber being used to lift them up. Barry Casey assisted by Jim Miatt and Peter Rose put up the lights.
