Emalene Munro

Young Achiever: Emalene Munro’s gunning for shooting glory

SHOOT: Emalene Munro is one of 12 nominees for the 2020 Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year Award for her achievements in clay target shooting.

Emalene Munro feels right at home with a gun in hand.

The talented clay target shooter was introduced to the sport at a young age by her father, Michael, and has been hitting targets ever since.

“I was just a four-year-old girl following dad around,” Munro said.

“He grew up around guns and so did I and we were always around properties.

“As soon as I could get my gun license, I did.”

The 20-year-old has come a long way since then, now competing in the field and game discipline.

Some of her biggest achievements include winning a state title and being named first reserve for the Australian team.

“That was pretty amazing for my first year of trying to do national shooting as an open lady,” she said.

“I came fourth last year out of about 30 to 40 women.

“To come fourth out of that amount in Australia and be the youngest competing in it was pretty astounding.”

Munro also earned the opportunity to compete in London in the World Championships last year.

“It was my first time overseas and I took a gun,” she said.

Munro is now awaiting selections for the Australian team competing in Mississippi this year and dreams of one day becoming a world champion in her discipline.

“Hopefully I can be the youngest woman to do it, that would be a bonus,” she said.

“I’d love to get into the Olympics.”

The accounting student is one of 12 finalist for the 2020 Norske Skog Young Achiever of the Year Award.

Munro said she was shocked to learn about her nomination, having only moved to Albury two years ago from Temora.

“I’m not an Albury born person, so to be nominated for such a prestigious award around here, I was very surprised,” she said.

“I was extremely surprised when I saw the finalists, because obviously there’s a lot of talented people around here.

“To be part of it is an honour.”

Munro said she’d encourage anyone wanting to take up shooting to give it a go.

“I love the sport and would do it for the rest of my life if I could,” she said.

“You hear a lot of the bad things that happen with firearms.

“A lot of people are scared of them and don’t understand that it’s not actually the weapon that does the damage, it’s the person behind it.

“If anyone wants to get into it don’t be scared to ask around the gun clubs.

“Definitely women in the sport too, we need more women and juniors to keep the sport growing.”

Munro juggles work, study and travels for competitions on a weekly basis.

Source – The Border Mail, 17.02.2020