From Chris:

Last weekend, we marked the passing of another Apex Year with our 3rd annual Changeover, and our first as the new ‘superclub’. A tremendous day and a showcase of what the club has to offer. The changeover was attended by 25 people, including Cr Graham Quirke, Life and Senior Active members from both merged clubs, fellow Apexians from Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Sandgate and Weston creek (ACT), our own members of course as well as two prospect members and a couple of additional friends of the club.

Ruth Morahan did a sterling job as the MC for the luncheon, tough she was quite nervous, and a little wobbly, having just come off a week on a house boat. Colin Waugh, Life Member Mount Gravatt delivered the toast to the Association, providing some great stories of his time in Apex and of the things that Apex has achieved over the years. It was great to see Colin back at an Apex function, as he mentioned that he had little contact with Apex since he received Life Membership eleven years ago. We of course hope to rectify this!

It was my job to respond to the toast, which was a great honour. I also took the opportunity, while holding the floor, to make a presentation to the club of a new presidents chain of office for the Brisbane City club. I was deeply proud of being the Charter President of the club, and felt it appropriate to donate an item like this to the club.

Both Fiona and Brett delivered Presidents reports for the 06/07 Apex year, with both making note of how well the merger has gone, and how good it is for both clubs, and now the new ‘superclub’. Brett also presented the awards for the club, being the service award to Keeley Russell following a big effort of 143 service hours for the year, the encouragement award went to Darryl Byers, a member in his first full year of Apex and doing some great things and finally the big award, Apexian of the Year, which was presented to Ruth Morahan for the outstanding work and dedication to the club over the past twelve months.

The handover was performed by Life Member Terry Russell, who took the opportunity to congratulate the club on getting to this point. A combination of a club which was almost dead and a club that started from scratch only three years ago. The new club is going strong with fourteen members and another two keen to join. He paid tribute to the job that Brett had done in his two years as President then ‘passed the baton’ to Samantha, who will lead the new merged club for the next twelve months.

Samantha made a couple of presentations during her inaugural speech, including “Brisbane City” club badges to the former Mount Gravatt members, followed by a special presentation of Senior Active membership to Allan Russell, in recognition of his ongoing support and work for the Brisbane City Club.

Following the presentation of the new Board, the attendees adjourned to the balcony for some extended fellowship, no doubt the best part of the day. Of course this could only be topped by the exceptional quality of the meals served by the staff of the Women’s College, where the changeover was held. All in all, a great time was had by everyone, and we are looking forward to a sensational year under Samantha’s stewardship.

From Fiona:

Last Sunday saw the Changeover Lunch of the Brisbane City and Mt Gravatt Clubs. It was a wonderful afternoon spent in the company of great friends, and wonderful food! Kudos to the chefs at the Women’s College, they did a marvellous job!

It was also the last official hurrah for the now merged Mt Gravatt Club. On behalf of the Club, I would like to thank everyone who attended for a very enjoyable afternoon!

This article from the September 1969 Apexian talks about the Apex Club of Ipswich, the first Apex Club in Queensland.  Ipswich was the sponsor club for the Apex Club of Brisbane.

As the first Apex club in Queensland, Club 38 - Ipswich played a part in the extension of the young men’s server club into other areas of the northern state.  The Apex Club of Ipswich recently celebrated 30 years of community service at a function held in conjunction with the District 11 Zone 6 convention.

The function was attended by the Ipswich City Administrator, Mr. V.Smith; Mr E.Marginson, M.L.A.; Mr. B.Hayden, M.H.R.; Association President Peter Mayo; Ipswich Apex charter president and life member Les Thomas; Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr. Gough Whitlam; Mrs. Vi Jordan, M.L.A.; District 11 governor Hugh McGovern; Zone 6 vice-president Brian Chappel.

The suggestion that Apex be formed in Ipswich was first made by Mr W.R.(Bill) Tucker early in 1938. Mr. Tucker, who lived in Ipswich but was formerly of Victoria, knew something of Apex and its activities in that State and believed the possibilities of forming a club in Ipswich should be investigated.

The inaugural dinner, on July 23, 1938, was an outstanding success and the club then met every fortnight. Guest speakers were obtained for each meeting and one of the earliest was Mr. H.S.Shapcott, then District Scout Commissioner.

It was not until June 10, 1939, that the club was officially admitted to the Association, when Charter No. 38 was presented by George Hawkes, representing the National President.

Ipswich this became the first Apex club formed in Queensland and the charter dinner was attended by the Mayor (Ald. J.C.Minnis), other prominent citizens and Apexians from Lismore, Wollongong, Grafton, Brisbane and Toowoomba.

Satisfaction

During the period between the inaugural dinner and charter presentation, Ipswich members were busy sponsoring formation of clubs in Brisbane and Toowoomba, and many members later had the pleasure of attending the charter nights of both. Immediately there were interclub visits and Apex was firmly established in Queensland.

The outbreak of war caused the club to reorganise so that it would be able to keep going with reduced membership, but at the end of hostilities the club returned to normal activities.

Charter president and life member of Ipswich, Les Thomas, says: “I am confident those who originally undertook the formation of Apex in this city derive considerable satisfaction and some pride in the knowledge that 30 years later Apex members are effectively playing an important part in our community life.” 

Two Brisbane Apexians congratulate each other on their Life Memberships.  Left is Barry Jones of Mt Gravatt Club with Dave Rose of Nundah.

Barry was originally a member of South Brisbane and transferred to Mt Gravatt as an inaugural member. He has had 13 years in Apex.

Dave Rose is well known to many as Forum sub-editor. He has also been club president, district governor and zone IR and public relations chairman. Following up his Apex training Dave recently became a fulltime field officer of the Cancer Fund in Queensland.

Apex Club of Brisbane has given four retiring members life membership.  John Condon, Bob Hindmarsh, Mal Robson and Keith Trembath were bestowed with life membership by District Governor, Karl Hertle.  The four served Apex with distinction and have been members of Apex for a total of 48 years.  Keith Trembath had been a member for 16 years.

All served as club president and three held the office of District Governor.  Bob Hindmarsh was Zone 6 Public Relations officer and public speaking finalist at the 1958 Association Convention.  Always a club to keep its numbers up, Brisbane Apex had Karl Hertle induct four new members the same night.