On August 18, 1969, in Ringwood, Victoria, a group of well-known deer hunters gathered to discuss a proposal by the Sporting Shooters Association to form a dedicated deer hunting association. The idea gained traction, and a public meeting was organised to gauge interest.
This meeting was held at the Elderly Citizens Hall in Camberwell, and the strong turnout showed that there was widespread enthusiasm for such an organisation. While the initial proposal failed, primarily due to the requirement of being a Sporting Shooters Association member, the concept was far from abandoned.
A second public meeting on September 5, 1969, held at the same venue, led to the successful formation of the Australian Deer Hunters Association. The first office bearers elected were:
Additional committee members included Dick Dixon, Bill Pepper, Allan Tough, Ron Marshall, Geoff Freeman, Pat Stratton, Ian Disney, Des Trott, and Norm McLeod. In the early years, the association was focused on creating a community of hunters and enthusiasts passionate about deer.
Some years later, the association's name was changed to the Australian Deer Association. Contrary to common belief, the word "hunter" wasn’t dropped to avoid stigma. The name change was made to broaden the organisation's scope, allowing anyone interested in deer, whether hunters or not, to join. Additionally, at the time, deer hunting was still illegal in Queensland, but dedicated supporters in the state had already established our third branch.
For over five decades, the ADA has thrived, thanks to the leadership of passionate individuals and the enduring support of its members. From humble beginnings, the ADA has grown into a nationwide organisation with active branches in every state and territory of Australia, advocating for sustainable deer management, public land access, and recreational hunting.
ADA has been fortunate enough to have volunteers contribute at every step of its existence.
Some of these contributions have been significant enough to warrant a life membership in recognition.
Life Members of the Australian Deer Association:
Ø Robert Brown
Ø Jack Clark (dec)
Ø Michael Harrison
Ø George MacKenzie
Ø Geoff Moore (dec)
Ø Patrick Ross
Ø Ken Slee
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