Inspire: Millie Jane
The Inspire Foundation is a New Zealand-registered charity supporting talented young people to achieve excellence while contributing to their local communities and inspiring positive change through their passions.
For Millie Jane McIlraith, representing New Zealand is about more than sporting success. It’s about representing the small North Canterbury town of Hawarden she calls home.
“My story isn’t special. I’m one of countless rural kids who had a dream of representing New Zealand,” she says.
Growing up hunting and fishing, Millie was introduced to shooting through her family. Her father coached smallbore rifle shooting, but recognised that clay targets might better suit his daughter’s temperament.
“I lack patience in many aspects of my life,” she laughs. “He reckoned that he could train me up, but I should give clay target shooting a try first. Well, the rest is history.”
Now a representative down the line and skeet A-grade shooter, with a hit rate exceeding 96 per cent, Millie has represented New Zealand internationally, including at the World Championships in Canterbury.
“I’m super, super proud to have performed the way I did,” she says.
Support from the Inspire Foundation helped her purchase competition-quality ammunition, making a difference at the highest level.
“I spent my grant on top-quality ammunition that I couldn’t have afforded without it. It’s just a percentage game. The difference between A and double A grade is massive. You know, so it really did allow me to shoot as well as I did.”
Now studying law at the University of Waikato, Millie has her sights set on further international competition and a return to skeet shooting.
But her greatest ambition extends beyond medals.
“I’d love to see more rural athletes competing at the top level,” she says. “Giving back is a huge part of what I hope the rest of my shooting career looks like.”
Her connection to North Canterbury remains unwavering.
“I’ve grown up fishing North Canterbury’s rivers and lakes, and hunting its hills. I’m very proud to represent the land that I grew up living on.”