Coast club kicked out

A Sunshine Coast service club's charter has been revoked by the national board after the club failed to clear the air over allegations of missing funds.

A Sunshine Coast service club's charter has been revoked by the national board after the club failed to clear the air over allegations of missing funds.

The Apex Club of Bribie Island had been suspended earlier this year after it was discovered that $9500 was allegedly missing from the funds it had raised.

Today Apex released a statement saying the charter of the club was revoked by Apex's national board at a recent meeting held in conjunction with Apex Australia’s 73rd National Convention in Ballarat.

The club found itself in financial difficulties and ceased operations last year amid controversy.

Questions concerning the club arose when Bribie Islands annual New Years fireworks, usually hosted by the Bribie Apex club, did not take place.

The club also failed to hold meetings, as was required by Queensland Apex, and was two months in arrears of its club fees $1800.

Queensland State President Chris Morahan of the Brisbane City Apex Club confirmed that the National Board of Apex Australia had made the difficult decision of closing the club.

He told thedaily.com.au that it was the first time such action had been taken in Queensland in at least 30 years.

Mr Morahan said the club in its current form was not servicing the needs of the community or Apex as an organisation.

He said while there had been allegations of missing money, Apex had not been able to establish one way or another whether the claims could be substantiated, partly because one year of accounts had not been fully audited.

Mr Morahan said there were some assets could be seized, including a camera, photocopier, barbecue and other equipment, to help recover any outstanding money.

The membership of the club is able to appeal the decision.

In its statement, Apex said: "The Apex Club of Bribie Island, Club Number 954 of the Association was chartered on December 4, 1982 and has since been an exceptional servant of the Bribie Island community.

"The club hosted the first ever Queensland Apex State Convention in 1991, and counts among its past members Life Members of Apex John Dehey, Steve Eaton, Brian English, Rod Ost, Paul Thomas and Lindsay Wilson.

"In recent years, the Bribie Club has been responsible for running the Mullet Festival & Queen, New Years Eve fireworks, delivering telephone books on the Island, and cleaning up graffiti with the assistance of the graffiti trailer that was donated to it by the State Government.

"The club had also been very active participants in running the local Apex High School Debating competition.

"The Apex Queensland Board is currently negotiating with the other groups in the region including the Chamber of Commerce to keep the Mullet Festival and New Year’s Eve entertainment going, although nothing is confirmed at this stage.''

Originally published as Coast club kicked out