“When we started operation in 1993 we were constantly fighting the perception that we were ‘right-wing military nuts’ wanting to overthrow the government,” he says.
“We’re running around the bush dressed in camouflage, playing military-style games. In actual fact, we’re a pack of nerds running around playing games, shooting at each other with round little balls that break paint on us.”
At the 36-hectare property, with a backdrop of beautiful bush, paintballers have a range of scenarios to choose from for their game.
Like shooting zombies, it’s a similar concept when it comes to paintballing: attack and defend.
Groups can range from four players to 150 and paintballers are split into two groups, with the main aim of the game being to capture the flag of the other team.
The other aim is not to get shot. Once you’re shot, you’re out of that game and are escorted to a waiting area until the next games starts.
Each game goes for about 15 minutes and a session will last up to three hours.
A referee watches all games closely to ensure fairness and safety.
Cumming says the game definitely attracts the thrill-seekers and adrenalin junkies.
“This is as close to cowboys and indians as you’ll get. And it’s as simple as that.
“By nature we’re hunters and gatherers. We can’t just switch off 100 generations of hunting skills. We need to get out and have that little bit of thrill.
“It’s the same thing when people ask, ‘What’s the mystique about all these first person shooting games?’ It’s that fantasy.
“Here they can come out and hunt and nobody gets hurt, no animals get killed and they have the opportunity to just have fun.”
One of the biggest concerns players have, according to Cumming, is fear of the pain that will be caused by the tiny paintball when it hits.
“The minimum shooting distance is six to eight metres. If you shoot within that distance it will sting. But what happens is, people find it doesn’t hurt as much as everybody says so they become more confident and daring.
“Bucks parties are the worst. By the end of the day half of them have lost their fear of the gun, so all they want to do is shoot each other from one to two metres away and that’s like hitting each other with sticks. From that close you’re going to hurt each other.”
While there haven’t been any major injuries in the time that Cumming has operated the site, he says a certain amount of confidence grows in players as they progress through a day of paintballing.
“They’ll start feeling more adventurous, so we’ll give them the option of playing ‘attack and defend’. So one team has to protect their fort; the others eliminate opponents and take the flag.
“Some people get more aggressive as they go on because they find out it doesn’t hurt as much as everyone says, so they want to get closer and play tighter.”
