“From bars to boogies, Apex had it covered”

The first Gympie Muster, held in 1982 as a celebration of the Golden Guitar win by the Webb Brothers, has grown into one of Australia’s most recognised iconic fundraising events. Since its inception, the Muster has returned more than $20 million to community groups and charities it has always kept its fundamental purpose the same, to raise funds for those in need in our communities.

Of course, the Muster doesn’t just magically appear. Unlike many other festivals where you simply turn up at a venue with everything already there, the Gympie Muster is in the middle of the bush. For weeks leading up to the Muster Gympie Apex members, are out at the site weekends doing preparation work round the site. Three weeks before the Muster officially kicked off, they were there for “rope off,” helping campers find and stake out their sites so the festival could run smoothly once gates opened. Every year, Gympie Music Limited has to bring the power, the infrastructure, and the technology with them. This year, there was a huge focus on infrastructure, with more venues and buildings added, new water and sewer lines installed. It’s a mammoth effort that transforms a patch of bushland into a fully functioning festival city in a matter of weeks.

This year, Gympie Apex had 24 members and four big jobs on top of all the prep work:Operations Room, Ground Support and their Apex Boat Raffle, this raised around $9,000, with half donated to the Gympie Muster’s charity partner, Rivers Gift. Can Collections from both inside and outside the festival raised over $37,000 for Rivers Gift, making a massive difference to this important cause. Rivers Gift is the largest source of funding for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) research in Australia. Money raised at the Gympie Muster helps them fund world-leading research and raise awareness, with the ultimate goal of stamping out SIDS so that no family has to endure its heartbreak.

“The real strength, the dedication, and the heart come from every single member who turns up, rolls up their sleeves, and gives their all, whether it’s building fences in the hot sun, manning the operations room late into the night, or collecting cans until the early hours of the morning.” Tony Rogers- Gympie Apex President 

Bundaberg Apex rallied support to assist, with 67 volunteers pulled from Apex clubs across Australia who worked in the Side Bar, Merch Tent, and Info Stall came from far and wide, proving once again that distance is no match for Apex spirit. For some, the journey meant jumping in the car and making a road trip of it, snacks in the console, playlists at the ready, and plenty of Apex banter along the way. For others, it meant boarding a plane, but even that didn’t stop them rolling up with a swag on their back, determined to camp out, muck in, and make memories. They came from Apex Clubs just up the road at Fraser Coast, or down south from Noosa, Brisbane City, and Toowoomba South; out west from Dalby, Chinchilla, and Roma; and even further south from Beaufort, Cobram, and Ballarat.

And, of course, to Dunk, for proving that a mascot can work as hard as any Apexian… even if he does sneak in a few extra dance breaks. The Apex mascot, who was impossible to miss, dancing on stage, photobombing festival-goers, sneaking behind the merch counter, and making kids’ days with high-fives and hugs. At one point, Dunk even tried his hand at a bit of country line dancing, the jury’s still out on his rhythm, but nobody can deny the enthusiasm.

Behind the fun, the impact was real. The Apex Info Stall gave festival-goers the chance to learn more about who Apex is and what it does, sparking plenty of conversations and connections. The Operations room, Ground crew, Merch tent, Side bar and Cleanup work kept the Muster rolling smoothly, showing just how much Apex clubs across Australia still contributes to one of Queensland’s biggest community events.

For some, it was their first Muster shift. For others, it was another year in a long line of service. But for everyone, it was the same story: long days, tired feet, and a whole lot of laughs in between. When the shifts ended, the memories kept building around the campfire, with good food, plenty of laughter, and friendships that last a lifetime. Tales were swapped of years gone by, and new memories made like a past National President serenading the camp chef with an impromptu love poem, that ended up winning the poetry competition from crowd support (the crowd may or may not have been filled with Biased Apexians) or when Dunk finally found his match in Dunkette, a love story born under the Muster lights. It’s these quirky, unforgettable moments that stitch together the fabric of Apex spirit.

When Apexians rise to the challenge: communities’ benefit, friendships grow, and the impact is felt far beyond the festival gates. That’s the magic of Apex: no matter how far you’ve travelled or how you got there, when you make the choice to show up, you’re guaranteed to walk away richer in spirit, with sore feet, a full heart, and probably a funny story or two.

Eloise Wattie

Fraser Coast Apex Club