History of Seabourne Rifle Club
This is a brief history of the Seabourne Rifle Club Incorporated. The writer having to gleam facts from club records and people’s memories. Any omissions and corrections are welcome to help us fill in any missing gaps.
According to the NZ Companies Office the Seabourne R.C.Inc. was registered on the 3rd.September 1957. I have searched this document and it in fact comes up with the constitution of the Motueka R.C.Inc. I believe the club inherited cups and trophies from this club or other rifle clubs in the Nelson Tasman region.
The next details that appear in the collection of club archives, held by Dave Hill, are that the Motueka R.C.Inc. became inactive for a number of years. Hence the name changes in 1957? I believe that Allan Strand reactivated the club in 1966 with a rifle range on George Wastney’s property at Hira. The club operated at this site until the 24th.April 1999. A plan for the construction of the rifle butts at this site was labelled with the Motueka R.C.Inc. name!
Previous to the opening of the club at the Wastney Range I have heard the club may have operated at the rifle range on the Boulder Bank.
The only minute book I have is first dated the 16th.June 1975. So the previous club history is a little clouded. Documents at the Companies Office online only go back to June 1997 with the exception of the 1957 registered Incorporation of the Seabourne Rifle Club Incorporated. It goes on to say that not all documents registered before December 1996 will be listed. A search fee would have to be paid to find these.
On the 12th.July 1993 Allan Strand set up a lease for the Leaf Valley range for 5years in his name. Noted in club minutes of the 10th.March 1998. When the tenancy at the Wastney Range looked like being terminated the club accepted the offer of Allan Strand to approach the Harvey family in a bid to change it over to the Seabourne R.C.
The club was operating the Wastney Range while building the Leaf Valley Range. A period of some 7 years. From the minute book the club was still salvaging materials from the Wastney Range in May 1999. The first club shoot at the Leaf Range being in May 1999?
To this day the club operates from the Leaf Valley range which it leases from the Harvey family. The club shares the site with the Gentleman’s Club and Bruce Harvey’s shooting business along with a quarry business.
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