Thread: Funny but True.

When I was at high school in the 1950's, cadets routinely travelled with an SMLE on the tram when going off to a camp on the weekend or August holidays. The bolts were kept in the Q store and handed out at the camp site. Target shooters likewise travelled with their weapon by public transport to Enoggera and Belmont rifle ranges. Many people did not have motor cars then.

Why the school Q store was never broken into for weapons is a mystery. Hundreds of SMLE, couple of mortars, several water cooled .303 Vickers guns, and a number of Bren guns. Just a weatherboard shed alongside the sports oval.

Many homes then had a .303 SMLE or .310 Cadet propped in a corner or on top of the wardrobe.

Likewise, when I was at highschool, I was a member of the schools military rifle club, and regularly travelled home on Fridays and then to and from Long Bay Range (i.e. right across Sydney from near Parramatta) the next day on public transport (bus-train-train-bus, from memory), carrying a 303, minus the bolt.

The armoury at our school was a bit more secure - it was under a staircase, solid brick building, concrete stairs, concrete floors, only window about 18"square, 20ft above the ground outside and barred. The door was wooden, but steel lined, can't remember the locking arrangements. Much the same collection inside.

When I first flew into Doomadgee I went Kowanyama to Cairns & Cairns to Doomadgee with a 308 Rugger in a gun bag between my knees.
Bolt & ammunition was in my suit case.
This was 1993, no questions, no strange looks.
Now I have to remember to take my pocket knife off when leaving Doomadgee.
Yes, Times have changed! Thanks Martin.
Jonesfam

Imagine a 12ish year old on a suburban train heading to Healesville with a rifle strapped to his bike to spend the day shooting rabbits in the late 70's.
No one batted an eye.
Today, the bloody SWAT team would be called!
MJS