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.”