Whiskey Flat Biathlon Range Working Bee, Easter 2015 – much done!

A summary of tasks undertaken:

Appraisal of needs, arranging materials, and tools and transportation;
Brush cutting the areas adjacent to the Biathlon hut, coaches mound and other areas;
Repairs to toilet – adjust door, re-nail loose and out of place weatherboards;
Removal of stumps, rocks and other obstacles from trails, fill some low spots to prevent water pooling;
Coaching mound rear fence repair – remove rails, stabilise posts and replace rails;
Coaching mound front fence – stabilise and buttress brace posts, add palings and additional horizontal runners for snow retention;
Repair snow fencing on biathlon return trail;
Remove and replace the shot-out batons to hold the paper targets;
Dig out and recreate agricultural drain around east side and door of hut;
Dig culvert drain at rear of firing point and approach to the firing point (using material cleared to fill holes on trail;
Remove and recreate barrier to right of lane 1 to a better alignment, so grooming can be straight across the firing point;
Repair door to office and add bolt to better secure it against break-in;
Clean out rubbish from summer use of the hut and remove accumulated and degraded materials that were under the hut;
Remove flooring from entrance area to hut, dig out accumulated soil from rabbit diggings, repair and replace flooring to allow hut doors to be fully functional;
Fill in many of the air gaps in hut;
Open areas under the hut have been closed off with hinged boardings. This should stop wind blowing into the hut, especially since much of the material previously stored under the hut has been removed. The hut looks much neater now;
Fill-in the open area under the office (by large swinging door). This has made the area safer, neatened it and created a better space;
Clean out room opposite the office, build some high shelving for rifle boxes and add beams to ceiling for future insulating;
Inspect roof for leaks and reseat some of the nails (some of the water damage may be from condensation);
Weed removal from firing point on range, this was a big, time-consuming task;
Mechanically service, scrape back and paint all targets. Paddles removed, repaired and replaced;
Re-erect flag line, where wind and falling branches have damaged it. (The line has deteriorated and will need some more repair;
Install pit and culvert drain from hut to in front of firing point and re-vegetate
Clear and mark culverts;
Stack and tidy firewood (firewood is from previous year, some additional wood cutting and collection would be appreciated);
Re-shelve and stack contents of office;
Build target racks for laser use both in standing and prone (note, standing is for transitioning to standing training);
Replace rear door of hut with one built on site;
Putty and gap fill windows;
Paint new doors and laser target structures;
Other tasks I was not a party to.

Workers:

Wal; Phil M; Phil C; Neil R; John M; John J; Jethro M; Jeremy F; Greg O’D; Grant F; Gordon M; Gen Y-C; Emma F; Dominic M; Debbie D; Darcie M; Damon M; Carol-Ann W; Cameron M, and specially thanks to Wal for organising and bringing an 8Kv generator and many of his tools and to Greg O’D who, with the support of the Hotham Resort, did the back-hoe work.

Comment and Thanks:

Both the generator and back-hoe were essential to making the weekend a success and keeping everyone productive. The amount achieved surpassed my expectations. The professionalism and cooperation between the volunteers were very, very much appreciated.

Doing the sums, I note that at least 382.5 hours of effort was put in on the range. This is in addition to the time spent by those organising, collecting and transporting plant, tools and materials, plus the time spent in the evenings at meetings for policy and general administration.

Thank you to everyone who had a part, including Hotham Resort Management for their support.

Neil Richardson

Executive Officer

Australian Biathlon

Australian Biathlon News

Whiskey Flat Biathlon Range Working Bee, Easter 2015 – much done!

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