IDPA Announces New International Point of Contact for Africa
IDPA Headquarters has announced the appointment of Avalon van der Heever as the new International Point of Contact (IPOC) for the continent of Africa. 
Avalon’s home club is at his own range, the Ballito Defensive Sports Shooting Club in South Africa, which is the largest club in South Africa. He has assisted in opening Toti IDPA club and trained all the safety officers of that club in addition to training the 11 safety officers in Ballito. He says, “ I will be making huge efforts going forward to develop more clubs nation and continent wide.”
The new IPOC enjoys many firearms. “I have all the range of firearms but absolutely love CDP and shoot a SIG SAUER ACP 45 as a Sharpshooter. I enjoy the sport and am not a trophy hunter, I would much rather coach and teach than be a gamer in this sport, I want to grow it and show everyone, rule number one, safety, rule number 2, is to have fun.”
Van der Heever has been shooting IDPA around 8 years. “I wanted to learn to be able to handle my gun in an everyday carry situation if ever the need arises, IDPA being the only self-defense platform known. I love building the stages and designing everyday exciting stages, putting shooters through their paces, without embarrassing a shooter. Keeping it exciting and fun. My Club being a testimony to this, we have 135 active shooters, and this in only 2 and a half years”.
What are Avalon’s plans and goals for his area? “GO BIG OR GO HOME! Let’s take the sport to new heights never seen in this area”. He also recognizes that he has big shoes to fill. “My predecessor, Dr Vivian Whatley, has been such a strong pillar of support and the best mentor anyone could ask for, and helped IDPA grow immensely. It’s an honor and a privilege to even be appointed as the IPOC for Africa to succeed him.”
The new IPOC has a large family. “I have been married for 43 years. We have 3 of our own children, and 5 other children we have permanently fostered and adopted. One biological child and 2 foster children also shoot IDPA. We have had many more children pass through our door, these we cared for, and they have left to either return to the families who have corrected their ways according to the state, or to families that have now adopted them. We are much like a halfway house. We have a safe haven for animals too, currently 19 cats, 3 parrots, a cockatiel and 5 dogs.” As for hobbies, “I live my dream with shooting and training people with all kinds of firearm related subjects.”
Vocationally, Avalon says, “I left school and went straight into the military forces as was required those years and served for 4 years. After leaving, I went to the traffic department where I ended up as a senior officer and was on the tactical division. I also became a member of the prestigious Task Force team. Eventually, I started my own business by buying into lumber city franchise. After opening 3 franchise branches in various provinces, I sold them and started Awesome Kitchens and Home Renovation which I have been doing to date.”