Boxing
Whilst working as an apprentice baker in Murgon, the young Neville Bidgood went along to the local youth club one night, where they taught amateur boxing. In six years, Nev had more than sixty contests, winning more than he lost, including a few district championships and making it to the semi-finals in the Queensland state titles. He said that after winning a Darling Downs championship ‘the flame seemed to die a little, so I decided to try something else, perhaps something that didn’t hit back.’
Introduction to Shooting
Nev describes his introduction to shooting thus: ‘Being country reared, I always had an association with rifles, and would occasionally go hunting. At a dance at Goombungee, I spoke to Herb Kruger, son of the club captain Mick Kruger – the instigators of the Kruger Shield. Herb said to be at the range at 12:30 on Saturday; that was to be the start of a lengthy career of rifle shooting. My first shoot was over the double 800 yard range at Goombungee, using a borrowed rifle … I shot an 88 off rifle that day and other members said what a good shoot it was, looking back now, I suppose it wasn’t too bad considering the scores of those days.’
For equipment, Nev first owned a No. 3 SMLE .303, which he had Mick Kruger, a well known armourer with a knack for bedding, fit a heavy barrel to it. He then upgraded to a No. 4, which he shot with ‘for a few years using a blade front sight, then the first of the ring sights came along, which was a blade type of thing with a small ring on top held in by a screw at the front.’ Nev still has a couple of these sights amongst his gear. With the introduction of the 7.62, Neville’s No. 4 was converted to the new calibre, after first being x-rayed for cracks. Fitted with a Lithgow barrel and with wood cut from the front, Nev used his modified No. 4 for twelve months before replacing it with an Omark which he bought for $88 and is still using (although it has been modified to a 5.56mm calibre). ‘The Omark, at that time, were big score getters and my scores went up considerably, with my first ten bull possible coming at 700 yards.’
First Prize Meeting at Wondai
In 1972 Neville attended his first prize meeting at Wondai. He was unsuccessful on the range but his wife Kay won a leather shooting bag in the raffle, which he is still using to this day. His next prize meeting at Tenterfield was more rewarding, with Nev wining the 300 yard range, after a shoot off, and coming runner-up in the B Grade aggregate.
