August 15, 2008
Tamworth has shot off a special message to its own homegrown Olympic hero, shooter George Barton, on the eve of his Beijing Games appearance.
Tamworth Regional Council last night fired off an electronic missive to the Nemingha/Loomberah turf farmer about to make his 2008 Beijing debut in the skeet event today Friday August 15.
Mayor James Treloar has sent the best wishes of the city and the TRC area - all 56,000 of them - to Barton, who is competing in his second Olympic games.
Councillor Treloar says Barton was interviewed on national radio earlier this morning - and had given a wonderfully positive interview about being a proud Tamworthian - even though he was described as being the most 'remote' Olympian of the Australian team.
In his message the mayor has told Barton that if he's a "remote" Olympic competitor, then the people of the Most Remote Village of Tamworth all wish him well and say "shoot-em-dead."
Well, 400km from Sydney might be remote to some people but George has about 56,000 people sitting on his shoulder looking down his gun barrel - so he's not alone by any stretch of the imagination, Mr Treloar said.
Mr Treloar says Barton is a great Tamworth hero and a wonderful ambassador on the international stage for both the city and its proud sporting tradition.
Barton shoots at about 11am Tamworth time and will shoot 75 rounds today with the second 50 lined up on Saturday.