Nationals in sight for Boyup Brook’s Melissa Fisher

A Boyup Brook woman is set to represent Western Australia at the upcoming clay target shooting nationals after picking up the sport just four years ago. In her few years in the sport, Melissa Fisher, 44, has claimed a handful of State titles and has now also qualified second for the WA women’s team of six shooters, of which the top three will travel to the Australian Clay Target Association Trap Nationals. Fisher’s incredible story with the sport began after she attended a women’s day at the Boyup Brook Clay Target Club, which she had originally planned to join with her husband before he died from cancer six years ago. “I went and attended that because my husband and I were going to join but then he became sick so then we actually never got to do it together,” she said. “So when this ladies day came up I thought I’m going to go out and have a go and it was fabulous — it was the first time I’d shot a shotgun and I signed up straight away.” Fisher said the sport had helped her through some difficult times. “It’s just been a really challenging last few years since my husband passed away so it’s sort of nice that things are taking a good course and that I’ve found something that I can do and that I love,” she said. “It’s just so nice, being the age I am, to find something that I love and I want to do all the time ... it was something that I could do for me, I hadn’t put myself first for a long time. “And it’s something that I can teach my kids and they love watching me shoot, they get so excited when I have a little win. I want to be a better role model for them and to actually (show them) you keep going, you don’t give up.” The mother of four said her local club had also become like a support network for herself and her children. “All the members out there were so good, they used to help me watch my little boys so we all became a bit of a family ... all the old fellas out there are like their grandpas,” Fisher said. “They’re like ‘we’ll watch the kids while you shoot’ and they were just really welcoming.” Fisher said everything had seemed to “come together” in the last couple of months for her to qualify for the WA team. “I think I am still in a bit of a state of shock that I’ve actually made it because it took me a little while to get my head back into where I needed to be to shoot,” she said. “I’ve never done (nationals) before so I’ll just have to keep my cool and not get too nervous, which is a big part of shooting in comps. “You do get a little bit nervous and it can rattle you a bit and you can lose focus and miss your target pretty quickly, so you do need to try and get those nerves under control — which is what I’m starting to really do quite well now.” A date has not been set for the national competition due to COVID-19 border restrictions.