Old Shooters NEVER Die ..

- I was very sad to learn that my old kiwi mate 'PRICKLES' Tony Sillars has succumbed after living for many years following a cerebral stroke. - I had only spoken to him on the phone a few weeks earlier.

He was a huge collector of cartridge firearms. - His house, loft-space, garage, workshop, and shed all were stacked with rare items ( you would have loved his beautiful 45-70 that we bought in Sydney on one shooting trip for several thousand real dollars.

One year we attended both the Sydney and The Melbourne Gun Shows as well as touring all the Gun Shops in both citys by public transport with much walking .. It needs to be recorded that Tony COULD NOT PASS a pub or bar without entering for a few VBs - including gay bars on carnival week .. I truly suffered - becoming beer-logged with Tony. - Good Times.

Tony once told me that he had been buying guns since he was 14 y.o. and had only sold ONE in 60 years and that was a sporterized Lee-Enfield he flicked to me cheap and that I got converted to 7.62x39mm Russian and adapted to take a 30 round AK Magazine .. this tool I took into the Police ChCh HQ and shoved it into the arms officer's face saying "NOW BAN THIS". He, good cop that he was - with my permission, took it into the inner recesses to illuminate his most senior administrators day.

- We went winter pig hunting in the Cunnamulla area of Australia many times - plus around Lightning Ridge for competitions (The Opal Open) - BUT in all those trips - Tony, who truly loved his shooting sports, guns and reloading - NEVER ONCE fired at any animal. He would sight-in his guns out on the properties and ride the 4WD trucks for hours with a rifle in hand - but when nominated to take the first shot he would fumble the bolt and mumble about a jam or faulty spring - until someone else took the shot. - He was a lifelong member of the RSPCA. - We were so familiar to trans-Tasman flight crews of the airline we both worked for - that they would apologise to us if they couldn't upgrade us into business class!!

These Australian trips were with Aussie airline shooter mates into the center - up the Mitchell Highway - regularly with both trucks towing trailers stacked with food, beer, and cider, rifles and ammo. One good joker, 'Fred' had been a chef and - did he look after us. WOW - me, I always did the washing-up and preparation help. 

Fresh caught Yabbies, boiled with garlic highly acclaimed

THOSE TIMES ARE GONE FOR EVER.

Marty K.