GOOD FOOD WITH GOOD FRIENDS – WA HUNTER’S WINTER DINNER

NEWS John Olgilvie

To say that the WA Hunter’s Winter Dinner was a success would be a massive understatement.

While the political situation in WA has been challenging for many in the hunting fraternity, that hasn’t stopped the branch from expanding and continuing to offer our members great value.

The dinner was held on a cool August evening at ‘Oscar’s’ in the Valley. Oscar’s, situated in the beautiful Swan Valley, is a great venue. The spacious outdoor area, complete with fireplace, was perfect for the auction and awards presentation components of the night. There are also picturesque views of the surrounding vineyards. The indoor dining area had an abundance of comfortable seating, with plenty of room for everyone to eat and socialise.

Over 50 people attended, including guests and family of ADA members, which is one of the best turnouts that we have had for a winter dinner in years. It was great to see so many people getting involved, particularly younger members and guests.

There was much discussion and catching up before we settled in for dinner, mostly talking about the new firearms regulations and hunting plans. One common theme is that everyone was determined to make the most of the opportunities that we have in WA.

The chefs at Oscar’s did a stunning job with the menu. We were given a five-course degustation consisting of staple game meats. These included duck, venison, wild pork and mackerel, all cooked to perfection. The feedback was universally positive. It was great to catch up with old friends at the dinner, and to make some new ones. We mostly talked about upcoming hunting plans, exotic game meats and family life.

We also discussed the highly successful Deer Management Program (DMP) operations that we had conducted so far this year. Several members managed to take at least one deer, and the weather was generally mild. There was a great sense of excitement about the future of the program, as there are now three DMP coordinators along with a new camera team coordinator. The scope of the program is set to expand considerably, and we are all very excited about what the future holds.

After dinner, it was time to present the Rick Mazza Award and hold the auction. This year’s Rick Mazza Award was given to Blair “BJ” Montague for his long service as branch president, treasurer and VP. Blair is an active member of the ADA and supports the branch at every level. He has been instrumental in helping our members navigate the new firearms regulations, and we are all very grateful for his contribution.

It was also a time to thank Rick and Mark Mazza. Rick had recently retired as DMP coordinator, and Mark recently retired as VP and leader of our camera teams. The club thanks the Mazza brothers for their tireless dedication to the ADA and for playing an invaluable role in expanding hunting opportunities for WA members.

After the award presentation, the auction started. Members enthusiastically bid on a range of items, including some beautiful custom knives. Expert game chef Jason Spencer (Hunt Catch Cook) donated a beautiful leg of prosciutto. There were also some great pieces of hunting gear and art up for grabs.

Entry fees covered the cost of the venue and food, while the auction raised $1400 for the branch. This is a fantastic result and will help the branch to organise more and bigger events going forward, including our Hunter Education Weekend scheduled for early to mid-2026.

It was a great night, and living proof that ADA WA is thriving and stronger than ever. We can’t wait to start planning next year’s winter dinner.