September 2, 2013
Former members and Life Members of the Kingaroy Apex Club travelled from near and far on Sunday for the official re-dedication of Apex Park in Fisher Street, Kingaroy.
The ceremony, which marked the (almost) completion of a major upgrade to the park by the South Burnett Regional Council, was sparked by a minor kerfuffle which erupted last month after it was suggested in the media that the new-look park should also get a new-look name as the Kingaroy Apex Club had stopped functioning.
This stung former Members – including many Life Members – of the old club into action and the re-dedication ceremony was planned.
“(A name change) was never going to happen,” South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann assured the 50 assembled guests on Sunday morning.
“It will be Apex Park forever and will never change.”
But Mayor Kratzmann said the uproar had done one good thing, it had provided an excuse to re-dedicate the park and invite former members back to Kingaroy for the occasion.
He paid tribute to the contribution that members of the Apex Club had made to Kingaroy over the years.
Mayor Kratzmann also thanked all the Council workers who had designed and worked on the park upgrade.
The refurbishment is almost complete – there’s still a flying fox to install near the playground – and includes a new toilet block, a pavilion, barbecues, picnic tables and a new parking area.
The park may have changed over the years, but it is still one of the key Kingaroy projects of which former Apexians feel justifiably proud.
Club members began work on forming Apex Park in 1961.
In 1964-65, the first of the playground equipment was installed, to the value of £473/2/5d.
The traction engine was installed in 1967/68 and a toilet block constructed.
On November 21, 1970, the 10-year project of Apex Park was handed over to Kingaroy Shire Council, but the club’s involvement with the area did not end.
The famous “Rocket” arrived in 1977/1978 and was restored and erected in the park. Members began work on constructing a lookout in 1988/89.
The Kingaroy Apex Club has had two incarnations in Kingaroy since the first meeting of the proposed group was held in 1954 (1955-2001; and 2006-2009).
Other major projects that they have been heavily involved with over the years include the construction of the Glendon Street Kindergarten and the Senior Citizens Centre and adjoining parkland in Kingaroy Street.
Former club president and District Governor, life member John Box said there were plenty of old members who would be willing to help out if there were any young people in Kingaroy interested in re-forming the club.
- Related article: New Look Apex Park (Yes, Apex)
|
|
|
|
|
|
