“Flushing out the old, planting for the future”

Buckets of paint, endless sweat, and a crew of Apexians who can turn anything into a laugh, welcome to the 2025 Apex Overseas Work Party.

This year’s mission was clear: help refurbish the toilet block at Klang Special School in Malaysia and raise $30,000 to make it happen. Not the most glamorous project on paper, but for the students, it means dignity, safety, and hygiene every single day. And let’s be honest, Apexians have never been afraid of rolling up their sleeves (and ruining a few shirts) for a good cause.

The adventure kicked off in Singapore, where our team joined the Singapore Apex National Convention. Between speeches and fellowship, the Aussies also partnered with the Apex Club of Singapore for food distention, with groceries to families in need, a reminder that service doesn’t always come with a paintbrush on this trip.

Then it was on to Malaysia, with a quick detour through the sights: the largest hotel in the world, the colourful Batu Caves, the Petronas Twin Towers, and a brave attempt at eating some foods that probably should have come with a hazard warning.

But for Apex Australia, this trip wasn’t just about sightseeing and service, it was about returning to a place with deep ties to our history. The Klang Special School has been linked to Apex for decades. An initial contribution from Apex Australia in conjunction with Apex club of Klang, the school built in 1985, paving the way for ongoing involvement and collaboration with the Apex Club of Klang and work parties over the years. 2009 the Sheltered Workshop building was completed, Generations of Apexians have travelled to Klang to lend their hands, their tools, and their hearts and 2025 was another proud chapter in that story.

The real work began at the school, where thanks to the Apex Club of Klang arranging every roller, brush, and bucket, the Aussies had no excuse but to get stuck straight in. Sweat poured, paint flew, and laughter filled the air as the toilet block slowly transformed from tired to terrific.

It was a work party that had it all: leaders past and present, Life Members, families, and even a future Apexian not yet one year old, a proud third-generation member in the making. Nobody was shy about pitching in, whether it was painting a wall, planting a tree, or keeping the kids busy (a heroic job in itself).

The Aussie contingent was a roll call of Apex pride: Life Governor Mark Ballin, National President Tara Spotswood, Past National Presidents Ben Curnow, Simon Grant and Moses Abraham, National Treasurer Daniel Lascelles, Region Communicator Trevor Simpson, Life Members Roy Woods and Shayne Kuhns, Senior Active Tommy Wei, Fraser Coast’s Quinn Fettik and Eloise Wattie, Toowoomba South’s Bec Abraham, and Chinchilla’s Ross Cardillo.

Families joined the fun too, Elisha Curnow, Bronwyn Grant, Carol Woods, Jenau Lascelles, and Annie Cardillo plus the next generation: Shannon (18), Tash (16), Charlotte (11), Leon (9), Amelia (6), Sophie (4), Thomas (3), and Lachlan (1). Seeing the kids alongside their parents painting, planting trees, and joining the fun was a living reminder of the past, present, and future of Apex.

One afternoon, after a hard day of painting at the school, the Aussies joined the Apex Club of Klang again this time to help with a food distribution program, delivering pre-cooked meals to those in need in the local community. It was humbling work, but a powerful reminder that service goes beyond paintbrushes and power tools.

And because Apex never does things halfway, the week also included the Apex Global Tree Planting Day, where Aussies joined Klang members and National Presidents from the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, and Singapore to plant saplings together. Talk about “growing” international friendships!

The trip rounded out with the Apex Malaysia National Convention, celebrating 50 years of service, and finally the Apex Club of Klang Festival, where service turned into celebration. Even in the cooler conditions, Quinn, Ross, and Roy couldn’t help but roll their sleeves up again to lend a hand.

And none of it would have been possible without the tireless efforts of Apex club of Klang and special mention to Kohila Thavansan of the Apex Club of Klang. His organisation and generosity made the entire trip run like clockwork thank you, Kohila!

So, here’s the real question: what are you doing when the next Overseas Work Party is announced?

If you think “someone else will put their hand up,” you’re missing out. These trips aren’t just about building toilet blocks or planting trees. They’re about adventure, mateship, and memories you’ll laugh about for years usually involving paint in your hair, suspicious street food, someone snoring too loudly on the bus, and Daniel always close by with a camera to catch it all.

The next OWP could be anywhere. The only guarantee is that it will be sweaty, messy, and unforgettable. So when the call comes, don’t hesitate say yes, pack your passport, and come make a difference.

Because at the end of the day, the walls we paint will fade, the trees we plant will grow, but the friendships and stories will last forever.

Eloise Wattie

Fraser Coast Apex

View the entire photo gallery here