This is a group set up to raise awareness of and lobby against the motions on the Apex Australia National Convention Agenda to raise the age for active Apex members from 45 to either an open age or, failing that, to a maximum age of 60.
When Apex was first formed in Geelong in 1931 it was set up to be a young person’s service club. Originally the age limits were from 18-35. This has subsequently been increased twice, firstly to 40 and then 45. the thought behind the increased age limit was to increase the number of members; however, the reverse has been the case.
The supporters of this group believe that increasing the maximum age is actually ‘changing the intent’ of the thought behind why Apex was formed, that is, to be a young person’s service organisation. The idea was that young people could socialise together while helping others and grow as citizens together. However, the majority of 18 year olds have little in common with 45 year olds, let alone 60 year olds.
Increasing the maximum age will likely see an exodus of younger members as they will not want to spend their time hanging around with their ‘grandparents’ every fortnight.
The South Toowoomba Apex Club has 7 members under 21 and well over half the club is under 25. The club has gone from a club of 5 members to a club of 19 with a concentrated effort on recruiting younger members. It is likely that a large number of these members will be lost should the age limit be increased.
The idea behind this group is to lobby and petition the voting members at National Convention so that they aware of the large number of Apexians, past, present and future who do not wish to see the age limit increased and to open a discussion forum in relation to the issue so that everyone can have their say.
All people that support this group, please sign a petition and lobby your incoming district governor to vote against these motions.
