Growing up in country Victoria taught Bruce Hynam to be a straight shooter.
The Darley clay target shooter now has his sights set on gold at the Victorian Emergency Services Games next month.
Police, paramedics, firefighters, SES volunteers, lifesavers and corrections and customs officers will be among the 3000 participants vying for the Inter-Services Trophy at the Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games.
Events will be held around Victoria, from April 8 to 17, including at Bendigo, Phillip Island, Werribee, Traralgon, Ballarat and Geelong.
“I started shooting when I was very young chasing around rabbits and foxes and then took it up as a sport,” Mr Hynam said.
Mr Hynam is one of nearly 50 staff who will represent Port Phillip Prison at the games this year.
“I’ve been in the games since 2008,” he says. “I started as the lone competitor from Port Phillip Prison. Gradually over the years more and more people have seen what we’re doing and have decided to come on board to compete at the games.”
Training hasn’t been easy with two knee injuries and aching shoulders he attributes to working more than 25 years in corrections.
“I’ve been working at Port Phillip Prison for 17 years and before that I worked at Pentridge Prison for nine years … that’s as long as a murder sentence,” he joked.
