Goulburn Apex Club

In 2004 Goulburn Mulwaree Library was the grateful recipient of a large collection of items from Goulburn Apex Club after the club's disbanding. The collection includes a wonderful assortment of records, trophies, and memorabilia of the combined Apex Clubs, incorporating Goulburn Central Apex Club, Wollondilly-Goulburn Apex Club, and Goulburn Apex Club.

Among the collection are four albums which include photographs, slides, and newspaper clippings that span the years of 1938 to 1987. The photographs showcase the wonderful history of the club, from club fundraising activities and service schemes, trips, and social events. There are also club portraits with every member listed for several years.

Goulburn Apex Club Members, 1939, Goulburn Apex Club Collection, album 2 no. 1471.

Apex Club Mission

The Apex Club mission is to “grow, learn, make friends, all while having fun”. It is a non-political and non-religious volunteer organisation which develops the skills and friendships of its members aged 18 to 45, with the various clubs also providing a great service to their local communities.

Apex Club of Goulburn - Beginnings

Goulburn had 3 separate Apex Clubs which combined and continued as the Goulburn Apex Club. The following three certificates found in the collection show the official start of each of the clubs.

The Apex Club of Goulburn began in 1937.

Left: The Apex Club of Goulburn Central, 1960. Right: The Apex Club of Wollondilly-Goulburn, 1975.

Apex Club Community Spirit

The Goulburn community benefited from the generous efforts of the Goulburn Apex Club. The Club carried out many fundraising projects and services, such as bottle drives, toy drives, wood drives, and the Orphan’s Picnic.

An example of their efforts was the collection of over 60,000 bottles in their annual bottle drive in 1965 with proceeds going to Apex charities.

Apex Drive: Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 26 January 1965, page 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105825473.

Top: Goulburn Apex Club Bottle Drive, 1948, album 1 no. 1370. Bottom left: Bottle Drive 1955, album 2 no. 1669. Bottom right: Bottle Drive 1955, album 2 no. 1670.

Each year truckloads of firewood were distributed to local orphanages thanks to the generous donation of local property owners and the hard work and axe-skills of Apex Club members. In their 1954 wood drive, a staggering 35 tonnes of firewood was distributed to the orphanages throughout the community.

Goulburn Apex Club Wood Drive 1939, album 1 no. 1377.

Goulburn Apex Club Wood Drive 1940, album 1 no. 1344.

The Goulburn Apex Club also established the annual Orphans’ Picnic. On this day, children from local orphanages were treated to a day of fun, ice-cream, sweets, and treats thanks to the kindness of the Goulburn Apex Club members.

Goulburn Apex Club Orphans’ Picnic 1949, album 2 no. 1605.

Goulburn Apex Club Orphans’ Picnic 1949, album 2 no. 1606.

The Goulburn Apex Club also hosted many fun events for the community. One such event was the eagerly anticipated Soap Box Derby. Drivers between 12 to 16 years of age took to the course in their carts, sponsored by local businesses. The derby saw carts with names such as the Gulson’s Flash, Jaybee Salon, and Tustian’s 17 speed down the hill on their way to possible Soap Box Derby glory. Proceeds of the day went to various charities and organisations over the years, including the Goulburn District and St. John of God Hospitals.

Goulburn Apex Club Collection, 1951 Apex Jubilee Soap Box Derby Program.

Soap Box Derby 1942, album 1 no. 1354.

Soap Box Derby 1952, album 1 no. 1441.

Sporting events and family fun days

Aside from their community spirit, Goulburn Apex Club members also took some time for themselves and their families with various social and sporting events. This was a great way to foster friendships and enjoy some lively competition with other Apex Clubs.

Goulburn Apex Club Tennis 1941, album 1 no. 1364.

Goulburn Apex Club Cricket 1938, album 1 no. 1365.

Members had plenty of opportunities to take part in many social gatherings and experiences. These included dinners, picnics, and trips to iconic Australian places such as the Sydney Opera House in 1966.

Apex Picnic at Brayton Goulburn, album 1 no. 1374.

Sydney Opera House Tour 1966, album 2 no. 1491.

The Goulburn Mulwaree Library is currently in the process of digitising photos from the Goulburn Apex Club collection. To see what photos are currently available online, head to the Library website and search for “Apex Club”, click on “Titles available online” to see the digitised photos.