Georgia Rogers
Shotgun junior rising star
By Sam Talbot
SSAA Queensland junior member Georgia Rogers is emerging as one of Australia’s most exciting young shotgun shooters. Fresh out of Year 12 and already carrying multiple national titles, she has rapidly progressed from a curious teenager at a come-and-try day, to a fully-fledged international representative with her sights set firmly on the future.
Four years ago, none of this was part of the plan. Georgia had been focused on tennis, but when her coach retired, her father Charlie suggested she consider a sport with Olympic potential. Shooting was not an obvious choice, but when the pair noticed a come-and-try day at Beaudesert Sporting Clays, they decided to give it a go. Georgia had fired rifles before, but never a shotgun.
Georgia with intense focus on the next clay.
Charlie encouraged her to jump straight into a 75-target competition – a ‘trial by fire’ that resulted in single-digit scores and a very sore shoulder. “I was embarrassed and honestly scared to come back,” Georgia admitted. However, with determination and some support from the club it wasn’t long before she did go back. In fact, her grandmother, an experienced rifle shooter, told her to “wear the bruise as a badge of honour”.
From that, she has progressed swiftly. Jumping forward another 12 months or so and Georgia made a breakthrough by winning an English Sporting event. This confirmed for her that shooting was something she genuinely wanted to pursue. Since then, the results have continued to build: Overall Ladies Champion at the Sporting Clays Australia Nationals, Overall Ladies Champion at the Field & Game Nationals, and many other titles. She also competes regularly at SSAA Caboolture and SSAA Fassifern.
Her recent selection for the Australian Ladies Team for the World English Sporting Championships in Canada marked a major milestone.
“It was my first time going overseas. I was very nervous at the competition, but it was amazing to meet everyone and see their ranges. It was amazing to shoot with the team and make so many great friends,” she said.
Georgia describes herself as quietly competitive. “I don’t look at scores during events,” she admits. “I don’t want the pressure. For Nationals I told Mum and Dad I didn’t want to know anything. I just wanted to shoot my own game and be happy with my score. But yes, in my head I really want to win.”
Another recent milestone for Georgia was receiving her Beretta DT11, supplied by Beretta Australia. The sponsorship was a significant moment, not only for the endorsement itself but for the impact the gun had on her shooting. After a professional fitting in Melbourne, she found herself more stable, more comfortable and better equipped to handle long days on the range. “The reduced recoil is a game changer,” she said. “I’m small, and when you shoot a lot, it really adds up. Once I got used to the DT11, it started making a huge difference.”
Georgia has teamed up with Beretta Australia and shoots with a DT11.
Much of Georgia’s journey has been shared with her father. Charles, a long-time SSAA Brisbane member, has become both chauffeur and training partner, and the two spend most weekends on the range together. “It’s been great,” he said. “I get to spend every weekend with Georgia in the sunshine. Watching her compete overseas has been something special.”
Having now finished school, Georgia plans to dedicate more time to the sport. She has a long list of competitions to shoot, including the 2026 SSAA Queensland and National Shotgun Championships. Her long-term ambitions remain aimed at the Olympics, with the 2032 in Brisbane as her main goal. Skeet was and still is her targeted avenue to get there, but the various other shotgun disciplines are taking up her attention for the time being. “I did get asked about competing in the 2028 Olympics,” she said, “but it’s difficult to juggle multiple disciplines. 2032 is the main goal, and I’ll look at when to begin that training over the next four or five years.”
Georgia is currently looking for a job that won’t interfere with weekend training and is modest about her achievements. What she is certain about, however, is her passion. “I want to continue to shoot. That’s my biggest dream,” she said. “Everything else will fall into place.”
