Apex Club
This plaque is located at Apex Park, cnr Victoria and Shenfield sts.
Apex is a community service association for young men (aged 18 to 40) but gender and age restrictions were relaxed during the 1990s.
Formed in March 1956, the Cobden club held its charter dinner twelve months later, in March 1957. Office-bearers were former Dandenong Apexian David Cooper (president), Malcolm Roberts (secretary), Don Bales (treasurer), Harold Nelson (service director) and Graem Rix (social director).
Foundation members included George Allan, Geoff Anson, Ken Bryant, Harry Hammond, Frank Hodgson, Bruce Jones, John Longmore, Peter Mitchell, Stan Morris, Frank Millar, Clarrie Murfitt, Colin Nelson, Dennis Power, John Rippon, Kevin Smith, Geoff Steele, Terry Casey, Ray Mitchell, Robert Mounsey and Frank Robertson.
In 1997, the club’s life members were Dennis Power, John Rippon, Frank Hodgson, Peter Mitchell, Clarrie Murfitt, Neil Grayland, Lawrie Green, Merv Holloway, Jim McLeod, Murray
Kelson, John O’Brien, Peter Daffy, Dennis Hill, Warren Berridge, Steve Price and Ray Place.
Over the club’s history, association officials were Malcolm Roberts, Murray Kelson, Jim McLeod, James Creece as District Governors, and James Green as District Governor, Zone Youth Chairman, National Youth Chairman (three times), National Secretary (twice), Victorian State President.
Activities and achievements include . . .
- First club life member Dennis Power achieving 283 consecutive dinners in his first 10 years in the club, contributing at least 100 service hours each year. He increased this figure to 600 consecutive Apex dinner- meetings during his Apex time
- Tim Graham and Jim McLeod both winning district public speaking competitions
- Members attending International, National, State and Zone conventions
- Public speaking and debating • Outfitting a hospital ward
- Annual white elephant sale
- Waste paper drives
- Bushire relief
- School scholarships
- Inter-club sport
- Providing firewood for pensioners
- Holding cabaret balls for local causes
- Coordinating Carols by Candlelight
- Building the Apex Park toilet block and playground
- Running the local Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal
- Hay-carting, painting, fencing, bar-work
- Swimming pool maintenance, numbering houses
- Cleaning of swimming pool grounds and Vagg Park
- Donations to local and national charities and organisations
Clubrooms: The club first met in an untenanted shop owned by Dave Longmore. The club took 303 service hours to fully-renovate the centrally-located space. Over the years, other clubrooms were the Cobden Times office in Victoria St, the Coffee Shop, the Racing Club’s members’ room, under the stage at the Civic Hall and the Oddfellows Hall (now the SES base). Dinner venues included the Bowling Club, Mac’s Café, Thompsons Hotel and the Golf Club.
On a humorous note: After a big day of running the local White Elephant Sale, members enjoyed a few too many ales with one falling asleep. Other members found his place of work keys in his jacket pocket and carried him into the front display window where, next morning, he was spotted by early shoppers.
One evening, a couple of Apexiannes burst out of a giant cake – they will know who they are – and references to wide-eared elephants always produced a laugh or two!
Unfortunately, in 2003 – 47 years after the club was formed – Cobden Apex closed its doors. Its achievements over those years were immense and the community gained so much from the many thousands of service hours given. Just as importantly, many Apexians also reaped personal benefits from being part of the club’s programs and activities.
Apex Invocation – For good food, for good fellowship and the privilege to serve, we give thanks.
