Sunshine Coast About

About Apex Camps

Vibrant and energetic volunteer service organisation focused on harnessing the ideas and intelligence of younger Australians.

Apex Australia is an authentic Australian icon – established in 1931 and going strong. Today there are Apex Clubs throughout Australia and in several countries abroad.

Apex Australia has helped more than 200,000 younger Australians make a difference to their community, learn valued skills and make great friends. The Apex story is one of fun, fellowship and friendship. Apex offers you the opportunity to give others a fair go, practical help and positive role models to reach their own potential. Its Apex, Its Australian!

Board Members

Donnie Harris

Chairman

Donnie is the Chairman of the Board of Apex Camps and a member of the Apex Club of Townsville. He has a strong legacy within the Apex community, serving as a District Governor for Apex North and West Queensland between 2008 and 2010. Donnie’s passion for community work led him to join the board, as he strongly believes in the experience, leadership and welfare opportunities Apex Camps provides to children.

Donnie is a solicitor in Townsville and an Accredited Specialist in Business Law (QLD). He was a founding director of The Cure Starts Now Australia, a charity with objectives of finding a cure for brain cancer and in particular DIPG, which is one of the deadliest brain cancers and primarily affects children. Donnie remains a Director and Secretary at The Cure Starts Now Australia.

Mark Ballin

Vice Chairman

Mark has a long and rich legacy with Apex, serving as President at a local, state, national and international level. He is a life member at both Ipswich and Biloela Apex Clubs and has proudly held every club position at a local level. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge to the Apex Camps board, having held the position of Director of Apex Camps for five years. He has also served as the Director of the Endeavour Foundation Ipswich branch and been a valued member of the Theodore Rotary Club and Theodore RSL.

Mark enjoyed a career in the Queensland Police Service and as a member of the International Police Association. He values time with his family and spends his leisure time camping and fishing.

James Irving

Treasurer

James has a strong passion for community, sitting on various boards in the Tennis and Badminton field before becoming involved with Apex Camps in 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Business and has been an active member of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Australia for over 35 years. James is also a foster carer for Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to training and placing assistance dogs with children with special needs. His hobbies include tennis, hiking and travel.

Craig Sim

Board Director

Craig has been a highly valued Apex member for more than 17 years, serving at multiple clubs across Queensland including Maleny, Albany Creek and Mackay West. He has always had a passion for local community, having owned and operated his own small business for 15 years. Craig also sits on the board of the Rotary Club of Maleny and the Caloundra City 4WD Club. He enjoys being in the great outdoors, camping and exploring off-road tracks, as well as cheering on the Brisbane Broncos NRL team.

Danny Davidson

Board Director

Danny has been an Apex Camps board member for over 12 years, as well as serving as CEO of Apex Camps for four years. He has an extensive history in community service, being involved in this sector for 22 years, including as a member of the Apex Maroochydore and Brisbane City clubs. Danny has built an impressive career as an experienced retail property manager. He values spending quality time with friends and family, enjoying movies and good food.

Jim Hughes

Patron

Jim is a past National President of Apex Australia and has served as Chairman of the Apex Foundation of Australia. He has subsequently been appointed Life Governor of Apex Australia, Life Member of the Apex Foundation Australia and is currently the Patron of Apex Camps.

Jim has extensive experience as the director of ten successful companies, including both commercial organisations and non-for-profit community entities throughout Australia. He has served as the President of the Insurance Institute of Queensland and the Insurance Council of Queensland.

Jim was the inaugural director of successful insurance company, Youi Holdings Pty Ltd and all other companies within the Youi Insurance Group, before retiring from the company in 2020. He is currently a director of the Ambooriny Burru Foundation and Kred Enterprises in Western Australia, focusing on the wellbeing of Aboriginal Australians.

Jim has operated a number of sophisticated medical and community trusts where he had specific responsibility for the Children’s Cancer Research Trust and the Diabetes Research Trust. He is the immediate past National Chairman of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and has been appointed as a Life Member.

In 2012, he was recognised for his community and business contribution across Australia and was awarded the ‘Member of the Order of Australia AM’ for services to the insurance industry, the Apex Clubs of Australia, the advancement of men’s health and support for the arts.

Luke Skele

Board Director

Luke has been an active member of the Apex Club of Goondiwindi since 2011, and in that time has undertaken numerous roles including President and Treasurer. He is currently the Club Director for Service and Social. Luke has been a financial member of Apex Camps since 2019 and active on the board since 2020. He credits Apex with being an integral part of his life, bringing great friendships and connections with his local and broader communities.

Professionally, Luke has a degree in Agricultural Science and began his career as a research and field technician, before transitioning into sales and merchandising within the agricultural sector. He also has many years of experience in transport and logistics, holding multiple managerial roles within this area.

Luke is the Treasurer of the Goondiwindi Motorsport Association and assisted in establishing the Goondiwindi Men’s Shed. He enjoys fishing, 4WDing, renovating, golf and offroad racing.

Michael Bice

Board Director

Michael is a dedicated life member of Apex, having undertaken all local club positions up to President, held the position of District Governor and served on the State board. He has been on the Apex Camps Board since 2015 and has a close association with our Sunshine Coast campus, having run several community camps for disadvantaged children here.

Professionally, Michael holds both a Commerce degree majoring in Accountancy, HR and Public Administration and a Law degree. He has built an impressive career within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, starting as a Clerk and working his way up to Regional Director. Michael is also called upon to act as a Magistrate across the state of Queensland.

Roy Woods

Board Director

Roy is a Life Member of the Apex Club of Chinchilla, the Apex Foundation and Apex Camps. He has been involved in the Apex community for over thirty years, holding most of the board positions at Chinchilla, several positions on the Apex Southwest Queensland Board and serving as the District Governor on the Apex State Board in 2008/2009. Roy has a special interest in international community service work and has travelled to Apex clubs in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Roy has years of extensive and varied experience in the building industry, beginning his career as a qualified carpenter before becoming a Registered Residential and Commercial Builder and running his own building company. He has also served as the President of the Motorbike Riders Association, coordinating the club’s charity blood donation runs and Christmas toy drives.

Roy is passionate about mentoring and encouraging new members and has continued to be involved in Apex community service work and projects to this day.

Our History

1983

Started from humble beginnings in 1983 when a group of civic minded Apexians from the local area wanted to provide the opportunity to engage the local community in the camp experience.

In 2013 we took over a lease on a former Queensland Government Active Recreation Centre on Magnetic Island (Apex Camps Magnetic Island), offering guests a unique island adventure off the coast of Townsville.

2013

2017-2018

In 2017, Apex Camps Sunshine Coast began running a School Holiday Drop-Off Program for kids aged 5-17, along with outdoor adventure Birthday Parties. In 2018, the camp also began running Corporate and Group Activities for group outdoor experiences and team building events.

2021

Apex Australia has helped more than 200,000 younger Australians make a difference to their community, learn valued skills and make great friends. Its Apex, Its Australian!