The Association of Apex Clubs of Australia

So, you've heard about Apex - that's GREAT! But perhaps you're wondering what Apex is about, and if it's something you would be interested in joining? No problems! There's a few websites out there about Apex, but the aim of this lens is to give you a personal insight into what it means to be an Apexian, and hopefully encourage you to seek out your local Club!

What do the Ideals mean?

* To make the ideal of service the basis of all enterprise.

To be of service; to do what would best be of service to the community; to have how best to serve the community at the basis of all undertakings.

* To develop by example a more intelligent and aggressive citizenship.

Citizenship isn't just a right and privilege, it comes with responsibilities as well. This ideal is about being proactive in the community, being very community minded and doing more than just talking about thinks that need fixing - get out there and DO something! In this instance, "aggressive" is meant as proactive.

* To provide a means of forming enduring friendships, rendering altruistic service, and building better communities.

Apex is an organization where you can make new friends across state and international boarders, where you are brought together to make a positive impact on the world not because you, yourself reap a specific benefit (although this can often be the case), but because if feels GREAT to do something positive for the good of the community.

* To promote international understanding and friendship.

Apex is an Australian founded, non party political, secular, international service club for men and women between the ages of 18-45. We welcome people from all walks of life, cultures, classes, orientations, etc. We become an Apex Family.

Take a look at this video, and see for yourself what sort of wonders Apex Australia has been doing for the community for over 80 years!

* 1931 · Apex Founded : Apex formally began on March 10 1931, in Geelong, Victoria during the 1930's Depression. Founded by three young architects Sir John Buchan, Ewan Laird and Langham Proud. Within seven months of the founding of the Geelong Club, Clubs were started at Ballarat, then Camperdown, Albury and Warrnambool. In 1934 the first Club in a capital city was started in Melbourne.

* 1935 · Royal Flying Doctor Service : The first National Service Scheme in 1935 saw a truck and pedal wirelesses donated to the RFDS and the Australian Aerial Medical Services. National Schemes were initiated quickly as a means of organising and attacking problems which could not be overcome by individuals, or individual Clubs.

* 1937 · Free Milk : Free milk for Australian School children was introduced thanks to the 1937 National Service Scheme.

* 1938 · Mothers and Babies Associations : Mothers and Babies Associations were supported throughout Australia with the donation of various equipment in 1938.

* 1945 · World War II : There were 40 Apex Clubs by the end of 1939. Over 900 of the 1505 Apexians served in the Armed Forces. The war naturally dramatically retarded the growth of Apex, but the growth resumed after the War. In the following decade, the number of Clubs grew from 41 to 162.

* 1945 · World Council Of Service Clubs (WOCO) : In 1945 Apex joined the World Council of Service Clubs, a group of international service organisations.

* 1946 · Anti TB X-Rays : For three years after 1946 Apex lobbied and petitioned Governments heavily to have x-rays to detect Tuberculosis made compulsory, resulting in the virtual eradication of the disease in Australia.

* 1955 · Civilian Widows : In 1955 this Apex initiative saw the formation of the Australian Association of Civilian Widows. Apex helped to establish a National Executive and over 200 branches of ACW across Australia within two years.

* 1955 · Aboriginal Welfare : The 1955 National Scheme was aimed at stimulating thought and recognition of responsibilities to Aborigines.

* 1957 · Guide Dogs : The 1957 National Service Scheme established the first Guide Dogs for the Blind Training Centre in Australia.

* 1959 · Operation SeaLift : In 1959 each Apex Club was called upon to sponsor a migrant British family, organising employment, accommodation and assimilation of the family into the community.

* 1960 · Operation Handclasp : A migrant scheme supported by Apex, that saw more than 11,000 migrants sponsored to Australia.

* 1960 · Save The Children : The Australian Save the Children Fund was the beneficiary of the 1960 National Scheme.

* 1964 · Talking Books : In 1964 theNational Scheme sought to make talking books and cassettes available to all blind people.

* 1966 · Mental Retardation : A three year scheme started in 1966 and resulted in the Apex Trust for Research into Mental Retardation.

* 1968 · Autism : Apexians walked around Australiain 1968 to start the Research Foundation into Autism, still supported by the Apex Foundation.

* 1969 · Blood Donors : A push by Apex in 1969 saw 11,000 new blood donors found, and new donor centres established.

* 1970 · Aid To The Disabled : A 1970 Scheme to assist the disabled members of society.

* 1972 · Foundation 41 : In 1972 Apex Clubs established the Foundation 41 Research Unit at the Royal Womens Hospital in Sydney, to research the effects of ingetsing substances during the first 41 weeks of life.

* 1974 · Multiple Sclerosis : The 1974 National Scheme assisted research into and the education about MS, while also directly assisting individual sufferers.

* 1977 · The Magic Castle : This chalet at Smiggins Holes, in the NSW Snowy Mountan, was built and funded by Apexian for the use of underpriveleged Children. Today the Magic Castle is managed by the Apex Foundation.

* 1978 · Help A Kid Make It : The 1978 National Service Scheme raised over $1,300,000 to build a research centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, for research into the causes, prevention and treatment of leukaemia and cancer in children.

* 1978 · The Apex Foundation : In the late 1970's the Apex Foundation was established to manage, distribute and develop the funds raised by various National Apex Schemes.

* 1979 · Robert Stolz : The Robert Stolz Fine Arts Scholarship was launched in 1979, and enables young Australian to furtehr their music studies at the Vienna Conservatorium of Music.

* 1980 · SIDS : A research foundation was established in 1980 to investigate Sudden Infants Death Syndrome.

* 1983 · Craniofacial Surgery : This 1983 Scheme raised money for the highly specialised surgery that rebuilds faces after accidents and deformities.

* 1984 · Diabetes Mellitus : Fund for research into Diabetes Mellitus were raised for the 1984 National Service Scheme.

* 1986 · CPR : Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation training was actively promoted and undertaken by Apex.

* 1987 · Life Education : Apex Clubs have been major supporters of Life Education in their local communities, and also played a major role in supplying manpower for a Telethon that raised over $4,000,000 for Life Education - educating Primary School children across Australia about the effects of substance abuse.

* 1988 · Melanoma : Knocking the Spots Off Australia was the title of the 1988 National Scheme, aimed at public education about malignant melanoma, and research into its causes and treatment.

* 1990 · Womens Apex : In 1990 the Women's Association of Apex Clubs was established, as a separate association of Apex Clubs for women between the ages of 18 and 45.

* 1992 · Child Protection : In 1992 a five year scheme focussed attention on the protection of children through the Apex Australia Family Protection Trust.

* 1993 · Testicular Cancer : The 1993 National Scheme raised the public's awareness of Testicular Cancer.

* 1994 · Year Of The Coach : The 1994 National Scheme recognised the sporting coaches in our local communities, and helped in the development of their coaching skills.

* 1995 · Clean Up The World : In 1995 Apex took Clean Up the World to the international community of 6,000,000 volunteers. Apex has also maintained a strong local participation in Clean Up Australia.

* 1996 · Downs Syndrome : The 1996 Scheme raised much needed funds for the Australian Downs Syndrome Association.

* 1997 · Merger : The Mens and Womens Associations merged to form one Association of Apex Clubs in 1997, enabling Mens and Womens Clubs under the one banner.

* 1997 · Kids Helpline : Apex has been a major supporter of Kids HelpLine since 1997. Kids HelpLine is a free telephone counselling service for kids. The recent focus of Apex involvement is with their youth suicide prevention programmes.

* 1997 · The Apex Foundation : From 1997 to 2000 the Apex Australia Scheme was to support the Apex Foundation, to assist the Foundation to continue to support Apex's past National schemes.

* 1998 · Mixed Clubs : In 1998 Mixed Gender Clubs were approved, for men and women between the ages of 18 and 40.

* 2000 · Westmead New Children's Hospital : In March 2000 the Apex Clubs of NSW handed over their $1 million donation to the New Children's Hospital in Westmead, Sydney, and the public entrance to the state of the art hospital was dedicated as the Apex Galleria in recognition of the achievement.

So, have I whetted your curiosity? Fancy finding out a bit more about the FANTASTIC opportunity that is Apex? Click on the links b elow for a taste of the possibilities!