ROSS Smith looks back on his time in the Redlands Apex club as among his happiest memories – memories he was happy to share at a recent reunion.
The reunion brought together about 80 members of both the Cleveland and Waterloo Bay Apex clubs and was a time to share recollections of the club and its activities.
“The worst of it for me was that I didn’t recognise everyone there. I was embarrassed about that, but it has been a long time,” he said.
“Five hours wasn’t enough, and it kicked on for the younger members at the pub until about 11pm.”
Having joined Apex in 1981 after moving to the area, Mr Smith, 77, found it not only a way to make connections but also gave a sense of belonging within the community.
“I joined and I was instantly a part of the community,” he said.
“You join for altruistic purposes because what you do is good for other people, but along the way, you gain great enjoyment, social interaction and personal benefits.”
Mr Smith, however, expressed sadness at the decline of community organisations like Apex, which he believes may not be experienced by younger generations.
“The idea of helping people gives you a good feeling,” he said.
“The benefits of working in community groups is obvious to you and me.
“But there is a whole generation who may never experience this.”
In its prime, the Redlands Apex club boasted about 40 members.
Mr Smith recalls the club’s major activities in the 1980s, including teaching CPR and donating defibrillators in partnership with the local ambulance service.
“I still practise CPR just in case,” he said.
The group was also actively involved in the Strawberry Festival and contributed to the local heritage by restoring a well-boring rig and donating it to the Redland Museum.
On a personal level, Mr Smith contributed to the community by building the swimming pool at Thornlands State School at cost price.
“They were crazy days,” he said.
“We would even concrete footpaths for Council.
“And most activities usually finished with a few cartons of beer.”
Mr Smith said Apexians had been active in the region for decades, performing outstanding community service and contributing to a wide variety of ways to the lives and lifestyles of residents.
“Our aim was to get as many as possible together to reminisce and share their memories,” he said.
“We thought we are all getting older and we only seem to see each other at funerals.
“This was a chance to have a good time together without it being a sad time.”
