October 25 - 31, 2023
History brought back to life ◆ RE-ENACTMENTS: The NEML have participated in many events, including the 40th Firing Volley in Beechworth.
HISTORY buffs at the North East Muzzle Loaders have been re-living history for the past 40 years. The group was initially started in 1983 by a group of four men in the Wangaratta district who were passionate about history prior to 1900 and wanted a club closer to home than the one in Yackandandah. “It was originally set up as a group of friends who are mad about history so what they used to do is go over and discuss history, they would dress up in colonial clothing and clothing from other periods,” NEML president John Haskell said.
By CHLOE JAENICKE “They would shoot muzzle loading firearms from those periods basically from the start of guns which is about 1300 through to 1900, so it’s a huge variety of periods.” As time went on, the club slowly began to become more family oriented as members from across Australia began to join. “We have members from all around Australia, it’s a long way to come without your family and they come up for con-
tinuous weekends,” Mr Haskell said. He said ever since he’s been a part of the club, his family has used the campgrounds at Dead Horse Gulley. The campgrounds have changed with more luxuries being added to the grounds over time. “Camping back in those days, we had long drop toilets and bucket showers and it was pretty primitive,” Mr Haskell said. “Now we have gas hot water for the showers, solar powered electricity for the main hut, so it’s become a bit of a mecca.
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