The Shepparton Heritage Centre is reuniting Shepparton Apex Club members for a special celebration.
Apex is an Australian-founded service club, similar to Lions and Rotary clubs, designed for men aged between 18 to 45 to connect, have an outlet, and give back to the community.
The Shepparton Club was founded back in 1933 by Dr Arthur Dickmann as the 12th Apex Club in Australia and served the community for decades up until its final dinner in 2013.
Shepparton Heritage Centre acting president Kristy Rudd said the event would touch on plenty of history of the Shepparton group.
“Back then, there wasn’t much for men ... so this was an outlet for them, but also an outlet for them to contribute to the community,” she said.
“They actually helped restore Foresters Hall in 1969, the Alexander Arbuthnot paddle steamer that got restored here in Shepparton, and they were part of doing that restoration as well.”
Mrs Rudd said the many of the Apex group members had gone on to have significant roles in the community.
“A lot of those guys came through to be quite significant leaders in the community and going on to have successful businesses,” she said.
“A lot actually ended up on council as well with those early members, so it was a good way of guiding those young adults through and developing those leadership skills.”
The celebration will take place on Sunday, October 20, starting at 10am, with entry costing $10. The event is for the Old Apexian’s Still in Service (OASIS) members to gather together, and it will be a day of celebration, reflection and entertainment, as well as an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and honour the shared history of the Shepparton Apex Club.
“It’s great that we can actually revisit and celebrate those years of Apex,” she said.
The day will include speeches from past members covering the club’s vibrant history, a screening of the Apex Antics, with exclusive footage from the 1960s and ’70s, and memorabilia and history to explore. Morning tea is also included in the cost of entry.
The celebration will be followed by a lunch upstairs at The Aussie, with prices per the menu.
More details on the event can be found on the Shepparton Heritage Centre’s Facebook page.