Former Murray Bridge Apex members reminisce
Remember the Murray Bridge Apex Club? Past members have held a catch-up, 52 years after its establishment.
The Apex Club of Murray Bridge has held a reunion for the past members and their families.
Around 30 past members came together at the Murray Bridge RSL on Monday for a much-needed catch-up over lunch.
The Murray Bridge club was first started by four life members: Neville Gotch, Bryce Kimber, Richard McMurdo and David Smith.
Apex is a community volunteer service, historically for young people over the age of 18 and under the age of 40.
The Association of Apex Clubs provide a means to form friendships, provide service and build better communities.
The club was officially chartered at a dinner in the Murray Bridge Town Hall on June 30, 1973.
The club set a membership record of 37 in 1981-82, and its members achieved an estimated 600 hours of charity work.
Former president, founder and life member Mr Gotch said he had already been in a few Apex Clubs before moving to Murray Bridge.
"We used to met at Leahy's Hotel for business and a dinner of sorts," he said.
Projects they completed around the community included building a fence around a kindergarten, a playground in a park, painting the hall, laying lawn, fundraising and countless other projects.
"Different organisations could also come to us for help and sponsorship," he said.
"In less than 12 months we were established ... we used to involve our families and the kids came along."
The Murray Bridge and Mannum clubs eventually merged together, but they unfortunately ended their run in 2018.
"It's a shame to see it disappear, but it's a sign of the times," Mr Gotch said.
"We created tremendous friendships ... as a group and doing something for the community."
Still, it was good to get together, see some old friends and catch up about the great times that were had, he said.
He reminisced about the year Italian film star Gina Lollobrigida was supposed to come to an event the club put on at the racecourse.
"We had all these Italians excited and waiting for her to show up," he said.
Unfortunately her plane flying from Western Australia stopped to refuel and was held back for four hours due to bad weather.
Rest assured, the day was still a success.
- More information: www.apex.org.au.
