A VOLUNTEER community service organisation once active in Golden Plains Shire is set to be revived in the region, with members looking to develop a club early next year.<\/p>\n
With the nearest clubs based in Ballarat and Beaufort, Apex Australia\u2019s regional communicator for Western Victoria, Tim Glenton, said it\u2019s been his mission for the past six months to bring the organisation back to the Shire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a club there for about 30 years ago,\u201d he said. \u201cThere would have been 10 clubs in Geelong and I\u2019m pretty sure Bannockburn had one and maybe Rokewood.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to bring it back and give people an option to get involved in their community either through social or service or both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Apex, like Lions and Rotary, is aimed at helping the community through fundraising and other support initiatives.<\/p>\n
The organisation has its roots near Golden Plains Shire, having been established in Geelong in 1931.<\/p>\n
The two nearest operating clubs, Ballarat\/Eureka, and Beaufort have about 25 to 30 members in total.<\/p>\n
With 10 members needed to re-establish, the new club will likely be called Golden Plains Central and based between Rokewood and Cape Clear and surrounds.<\/p>\n
Apex members held a stall at a car boot sale at Cape Clear on Saturday to garner interest, which Mr Glenton said saw some success.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had quite a few come and register interest so they\u2019ll be invited to the next event,\u201d he said. \u201cIt looks like it\u2019ll get off the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking to hold a community barbecue in Rokewood likely in January. Towards the end of that month into early February, we\u2019ll hold a public meeting to get the club formally started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Glenton, who\u2019s been with Apex for seven years, said it\u2019s important to keep the organisation alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy key driver is to promote that volunteerism and community service and the benefits you can get out of it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunity centres and things like that have limitations on what they can do. Having an Apex club as part of that broader umbrella gives you better access to projects and resources and assurance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s getting out there and doing that hands-on stuff like cutting firewood for someone that\u2019s struggling, helping people out with that direct assistance. It\u2019s also a real social community.\u201d<\/p>\n
To sign up for the new Apex club, email Mr Glenton at rc9@apex.org.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A VOLUNTEER community service organisation once active in Golden Plains Shire is set to be revived in the region, with members looking to develop a club early next year. With the nearest clubs based in Ballarat and Beaufort, Apex Australia\u2019s regional communicator for Western Victoria, Tim Glenton, said it\u2019s been his mission for the past […]<\/p>\n