![]() |
by Henry Catt This organization was started on January 29, 1959 sponsored by the Lumby and District Board of Trade, with 45 in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Jim Holt, president of Vernon Fish and Game Association, who called a show of hands as to whether or not Lumby should have such an organization. Affirmatives were unanimous. The meeting then accepted a suggestion from the chair that a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer and six executive members be elected as a governing body. The election then took place as follows: President - John Hughes, Vice President - Al Sheardown, Secretary - Harvey Howard and Treasurer - Henry Catt. Executive members were: Elseor Leger, Cec Wills, George Specht, Fred Holland, Ron Catt, Gordon James and Joe Martin for the year 1959. A choice of names were discussed and Sam Derry suggested that a contest be held among Lumby School pupils which was agreed upon. Jim King was the winner with the name of Lumby & District Wildlife Association and was awarded a rod and reel. The fees agreed upon for membership were set at $2.00 per year. On April 30, 1959 Gordon James offered to donate 25 acres of land to the association for the purpose of a club house, trap ground and rifle range, which was gratefully accepted. The first annual Game Banquet was held on November 26, 1959 and this event is still carried on to the present day. The cost of tickets for the first banquet was $2.50 - a bit more now. The club set up a trap house in 1961. Today there are two trap houses, a rifle and a pistol range. We started talking about a club house at that time but finances wouldn't permit it. Finally in 1989 with the help of Lotteries grant and the sale of debentures we had a very nice club house built. A junior Club was founded in May 1963 for ages 10 to 18 years, with President - Wayne Pollard, Vice President - Tom Tull, Secretary - Treasurer Corinne Catt., Executive Members were: Wayne Leger, Gary Altwasser, Don Catt and Matt Cadden. This was looked after by senior members Elseor Leger, Gordon James and Bob Fosbery. A firearms saftey program was given by Bob Fosbery. We hold an annual Fish Derby with prizes and trophies given for largest rainbow trout, largest char and hidden weight prize. These derbies have been held at Mabel, Sugar and Echo Lakes. Members who looked after these derbies were Fred Jarnell, Roy Wilson, Charlie Catt and Rudi Gedaschke. The club holds several trap shoots throughout the year and shooters from other clubs attend these shoots as well as our own club members. In 1977 a pistol club was formed and is quite active with several shooters. Norm Adams has been looking after the pistol club. In 1977 the club started a Salmonoid Enhancement Program to raise coho salmon. The project was looked after by Edwin Major and approximately 25,000 fry are released in the local creeks each year. In 1983 a C.O.R.E. was started by the club, This program has to be taken and passed before a firearms licence can be obtained. Instructers for this program were Pete Aussem, Gerald McLeod and Mike Blain and has been very succesful. We are members of the Okanagan Region B.C. Wildlife Association as well as the British Columbia Wildlife Federation, sending members to their meetings and conventions. Life members are Cec Wills, Sadie Major, Elseor Leger, Henry Catt, Roy Wilson, Gordon James, Martin O'Neil, Edwin Major, Rudi Gedaschke, and Ray Adams. |