With an invitation urging guests to dress up as anything relating to a letter of Apex, there was plenty of scope for an imaginative mind as local business man Robert Salter handed over the president’s chain to grocery guru Todd Hutchings.

State vice president Jeff Craigie, of Kadina, conducted the handover after congratulating the club for its commitment to supporting the community.

Mr Salter reported on a busy year for the club which included cooking breakfast for the Port Adelaide Football Club bash and catering for a mountain bike event at Spring Gully, the Riesling Trail Ride Fundraiser for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the Clare Pageant.

He said the club had participated in the Relay for Life fundraiser for the Cancer Council at Clare Oval and supported the organisation of the event by running the movie tent and cooking breakfast.

The $2000 proceeds of a trailer and barbecue raffle, which was drawn at the Clare Show, were donated to the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council to assist with lighting at the new skate park.

Mr Salter said the lighting was in operation and the club was delighted with the result.

Guests for the evening included Clare and Gilbert Valleys Mayor Allan Aughey and Lady Mayoress Lyn, the proud parents of both the outgoing and incoming presidents, Apexians from Jamestown and Kadina, Rotary Club of Clare incoming president Barrie Smith, life member and former state president Keith Rowley and wife Bronwyn, and former member and district governor Andrew Harding.

Mr Salter presented the club’s attendance award to David Forrest for the second time in his distinguished Apex career while quiet achiever Anthony Salter received the President’s Award.

Entertainment was non-stop throughout the evening with local singer/guitarist Ivan “Carpy” Carpenter strumming plenty of great tunes, while fines masters Simon Richardson and Rob Salter rattled the box for various real and imaginery “offences”.

The Clare and District Apex Club Choir was accompanied by Carpy in an interesting rendition of “Three Blind Mice”, while a cookery advice session revealed how to warm pies in a motel room when you can’t find the microwave oven.

Rotarian Barrie had the honour of judging the costume competition and gave the nod to a priestly Chad Fisher in recognition of Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to Australia.