George Shaw, Sergeant – 1875 – 1953 Brisbane, QLD, Australia

English-born George Shaw

The problem we have with the family tree is George Shaw was likely not the son of William Shaw as first proposed in my research.
Here is an extract from “National Rifle Association of Australia 1888-1988” reference:
The-Riflemen-A-History-of-the-NRA-of-Australia-1888-1988.pdf

A new delegate at the meeting was George
Shaw. English-born Shaw was one of Queensland’s best rifle shots – he represented Queensland several
times in Federal and Commonwealth Match teams, had won the State associations’ ‘Queen’s’ and
‘King’s’ three times in succession from 1899, and represented Australia at Bisley in 1902 and 1907.

Commonwealth Council of Rifle Associations 1901-1920 / Delegates /
Queensland

George Shaw 1906

The QLD registrar of births, deaths and marriages shows no birth record for Geo. Shaw in Australia, but the records are not always complete anyway.
This would suggest William Shaw knew of George due to their shops close by, and that a wedding present was given from Shaw & Sons to George, rather than directly from William as a relative. I don;t know how to reconcile these problems.

This opens back the lineage to George Bernard Shaw, the socialist and writer and that we have intuitive genealogical heritage to England & Wales rather than Ireland alone.

Kolapore (Bisley) Cup 1902

(1) These are the typical targets used by the marksmen with match rifles for distances such as 300, 500, 600, 700 and 900 yards. Rifles may have been given to the men for having won the competition. The rules of the competition vary over time. G. Shaw was one of the highest achieving champion shooters from the “colonial teams”.   Bisley 1902 used 7 shots at 200, 500, and 600 yards. Trove: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211462079
(2-3) The types of ships between Australia and England – examples 1903, 1922. Slower ships up to four months.  On record, I was advised three months for Bisley by QRA.
Newspaper Article: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19020724.2.38
For various images of Bisley see:
https://www.google.com/search?q=bisley%20cup%201902&udm=2&tbs=rimg:Cbt4zFSjgYw6Yb_1tYCRhTOLBsgIAwAIA2AIA4AIA&client=firefox-b-d&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CBoQuIIBahcKEwjwopLHqsiMAxUAAAAAHQAAAAAQBw&biw=2078&bih=1047&dpr=2

This silver bowl trophy was given to all the team members. For example, view William Todd’s trophy at:
https://collection.australiansportsmuseum.org.au/objects/17806/kolapore-cup-awarded-to-shooter-william-todd-1902

QRA Governor’s Cup 1901

The QLD Rifle Association (QRA) Governor’s Cup, won 1901.
QRA was run by the army. Many from the army were shooters. Being a Sergeant and a champion shooter was a big thing in those days, more popular than cricket and well regarded.

G Shaw won the King’s Prize at Toowong QRA in 1899 and 1900. The records show:
1900 Mr George SHAW Queensland English Rifle Club
1899 Sergeant George SHAW Queensland Volunteer Rifles

Silverwell House

267 Main Street, Kangaroo Point is an iconic heritage listed duplex house from the 1800’s, a large premise.
My dad lived there till he married in 1952, with his father Harold, and prior to that George Shaw. They did not rent, but owned the property (I assume one side of the duplex). Wikipedia indicates the premise was rented, but not so for the Shaw family.
Harold Shaw wanted to sell and move to Clontarf in Redcliffe area. While my Nana did sports and apparently was reasonably active, Harold (my grandfather) was lethargic, and as he grew older the house was seen as way too big for him, the long staircase was too much to cope with, the noise from Main Road to Story Bridge was too much, and the family was really frightened of local burglaries.

Bisley Cup 1907 – Clark Kennedy Challenge Cup – The All Comers Aggregate competition

Bisley Cup 1907 (Clark Challenge Cup) won by George Shaw (snr). Prize was 250 guineas. It was common for a winner to receive this, or a parcel of land (land: comment from QRA).I am unable to work out the engraving. Partial content: (some of this is ?)
Challenge Cup
Annual Prize, June1907 (or 1897)
— John Clark — —
in memory of —
— Clark Kennedy of —
Col: Com: — & KJ
Original Member of — —

For some information on the origins of the cup, see: https://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/williammurraysmith

This image was on a postcard with the attached content. Notice the style of writing, and the frustration repeated over prizes. He was one of the best shooters of his time.

The postcard text reads:

(to:)
George Shaw, Esq
Queen Street, Brisbane

(from:)
Taxation Dep’t, Sydney

Dear George,
You will remember this cup, no doubt. I had the picture sent me & lot of others of Bisley. Thought you would like it so am sending it. I got nothing out of my tie(???) in the Merchant’s at your meeting. Another tie(???) was found after I left and altho’ I did myself shoot off and won Lanham’s trophy, I get nothing. I think I should have been given something, as I left Brisbane after winning the 3rd prize, and it wasn’t my fault the other chap wasn’t there. We should have got a prize each.
Kind regards to the young ladies at your place.
Geo. Ardill

??? may be referring to winning a tie, and others who had ties? Merchant’s may refer to the cup’s governing body?

George Ardill, Refer: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ardill-2
Mr. Ardill was at one time one of the best known rifle shots in Australia. He went to Bisley and Canada in 1907, and was for many years captain of the Parramatta Rifle Club. Mr. Ardill joined the Public Service as a schoolteacher in 1896, transferred to the Taxation Department, and was later appointed to the Statistician’s Office.

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