YASS APEX VILLAGE
Providing affordable, independent living to senior citizens in the Yass Valley
The construction of Yass Apex Homes started in 1964 when Miss Mary Frances Callaghan died, leaving her estate to the community to provide accommodation for aged persons. Mary and her late sister Agnes operated a family business in North Yass known as Callaghan's Store.
Further, the very generous people of Yass have over the years donated their entire estates or large sums of money to the Yass Apex Homes. Legacy was also a big financial supporter of the project, without which it would not be where it is today. Many other community groups have also helped over the years with money and labour support, one being the Rotary Club of Yass who built a bridge over Chinaman's Creek connecting Yass Apex Homes to Banjo Paterson Park, giving a much shorter and direct route to the main street and its shops. Yass Apex Homes were the first in Yass to provide accommodation for the aged members in our community.
Yass Apex Homes now have a total of forty units that can house 47 people and a Board Room for meetings of the Board and storage of records, including Yass Apex Club memorabilia.
The priority over the past years has been to continue the upgrading of the older units. There has also been some major landscaping undertaken over the past years by past club and current board members and residents. This voluntary work has saved a significant amount of money that enabled money to be spent on other improvements.
Yass Apex Homes is the result of the work of the members of the Yass Apex Club over the 57 years that the Club operated. In 2006 when the Club folded, a new Board of Management was setup, allowing for 9 members (6 past Apex members and 3 non-Apex members). In particular, the work of Ray Apps the Secretary of the Board at the time of his death is recognized with the naming of the last stage of the homes in his honour.
HISTORY OF THE
YASS APEX UNITS
1964
A bequest of $9,750 from the late Mary Callaghan who passed away in 1964 to build accommodation for aged pensioners in Yass. In her will, Miss Callaghan directed her executor (Norman Napper) to build the accommodation and vested the management thereof in the Yass Municipal Council. At that time, local Councils were not bodies eligible for the receipt of subsidy under the Commonwealth Aged Persons Homes Act, It was then that it was offered to Yass Apex Club that they might adopt the proposal as a service scheme. The task was enthusiastically adopted by the Apex Club.
May 1966
After a commonwealth subsidy of 2:1 was gained total funds of $28,250 was available for the purchase of land and the erection of units. Yass Apex Homes then purchased two adjoining blocks of land with frontages to Rossi and Church Streets, close to the main street of Yass. The block cost $400 each from Mr E Williams and Mr T Greenhalgh.
June 1967
Funds for the first stage were raised from bequeathed funds, a door knock appear and a Commonwealth subsidy.
1964
A bequest of $9,750 from the late Mary Callaghan who passed away in 1964 to build accommodation for aged pensioners in Yass. In her will, Miss Callaghan directed her executor (Norman Napper) to build the accommodation and vested the management thereof in the Yass Municipal Council. At that time, local Councils were not bodies eligible for the receipt of subsidy under the Commonwealth Aged Persons Homes Act, It was then that it was offered to Yass Apex Club that they might adopt the proposal as a service scheme. The task was enthusiastically adopted by the Apex Club.
May 1966
After a commonwealth subsidy of 2:1 was gained total funds of $28,250 was available for the purchase of land and the erection of units. Yass Apex Homes then purchased two adjoining blocks of land with frontages to Rossi and Church Streets, close to the main street of Yass. The block cost $400 each from Mr E Williams and Mr T Greenhalgh.
June 1967
Funds for the first stage were raised from bequeathed funds, a door knock appear and a Commonwealth subsidy.
August 1967
Work commenced on the project.
May 1968
Stage 1 of 6 units was officially opened by Hon. W C Wentworth MHR, Minister for Social Services. These units cost $33,269 to build. At the official opening ceremony, a donation of $3,335 was presented by Legacy.
October 1968
Stage 2 of 4 units of the project commenced, following a Commonwealth subsidy. A donation of $1,500 from phoebe Wilson and $600 from the 1967 Yass Police Ball and from other donation from many individuals and local organisation provided the funds for stage 2 to commence. They where build by Simpson bros for a contract price of $19,986
May 1969
Stage 2 was completed and occupied. As Legacy helped finance two of the Stage 2 units, been 7 and 8 they have the right to nominate occupants. These units cost $21,940 to build.
November 1972
Construction of Stage 3 of 2 units commenced and were built fronting Church Street. These were funded by cumulated donations from earlier years and with a donation $2,000 each from 2 ladies, Mrs. W. Price-Jones and Miss D. Bourke. These units where built by David L. Lawrence & Co for a contract price of $14,150
July 1973
The land adjoining the existing units in Church Street was purchased with finances donated by Legacy and others from Mr & Mrs. Terry Cook for $7,000. This was paid for by a donation from Legacy and others.
September 28th 1973
The death occurred of Mr Leo Demery, who bequeathed his land fronting Church and Meehan Streets to Yass Apex Homes. This bequest provided considerable land for further development adjoining the existing units.
February 1974
Ten units to be built on the land bequeathed by Leo Demery, fronting Church Street. Tenders were called in 1975. However, lack of a Commonwealth Government subsidy prevented the construction of the units.
1977
Tenders were recalled. Commonwealth subsidy was not yet available so bridging finance was arranged through the Commonwealth Bank and the building of Stage 4, Two 2 story buildings containing 5 units each and a common laundry in each commenced.
The Commonwealth subsidy was received in June 1977. As money was tight these units where built on a tight budget, meaning some of the units are quit small and a plan brick been used. The late John Dennis was one of the main instigators of the Stage 4 units.
September 1979
Stage 4 was officially opened by Mr P J Lannigan, OBE, Director General of the Department of Social Security.
October 1983
Tenders were called for Stage 5 of 6 units of the Apex Homes. Shortage of Commonwealth funds meant that the project had to be undertaken without a Government subsidy.
March 1984
Construction began on stage 5, a single story bessa block bring the total number to 28.
September 1984
Tenants moved into the new block of units.
1984-85
Apexians spent 1100 hours landscaping around the new units of stage 5.
April 1985
Stage 5, the John Dennis Memorial Units, were officially opened by Wendy Dennis (wife of the late John Dennis) and Alf McCarthy.
November 1985
Yass Apex Club received a Herald Service Award for the building and landscaping of Stage 5.
September 1986
The house on the corner of Church and Meehan Streets was purchased at a cost of ??
May 1987
Land adjoining Stage 5 of the Apex Homes was purchased from Yass Credit Union at a cost of??.
May 1988
The late Rita Smith bequeathed her estate to Yass Apex Homes. A total pf $81,400 has been received.
1989
Preparation for Stage 6 comprising a further 6 units and a Board room facing Meehan Street on part of the Leo Demery land & the land purchased from Yass Credit Union with Legacy funding two of these units.
December 1990
Construction of Stage 6 commenced. Major footings had to be dug 600mm wide (round) and about 3 meter debt given the low lying land close to Cinemas Creek.
2005
After much planning, Stage 7 commenced. This stage consisted of six 2 bedroom units, each fully independent. Unfortunately, one unit (40) was started without enough consideration given to connecting all the utilities and major earth works still to be undertaken.
A considerable amount of money had to be spent replacing a drain that had been built in the 1970’, costing around $40,000. Earth works costing around $200,000 also had to be undertaken on the site. $450,000 was donated by the new tenets to help build these units, without this money we could not have build these units. They cost $1,500,000 to build including all the earth works that had to be done.
2009
Units 11 & 12 had a major refurbishment including a new pitched roof the same as was done on units 1 to 10 over the last 15 or so years and painted on the outside at a cost of $40,000. well over what they cost to build many years earlier.
August 2011
A line of credit of $300,000 was organised with the CBA and the remaining 5 units started to be built. These 5 units were completed in 2011 and the tenants moved in. The remaining unit (40) was completed in late 2013 and after many problems, then the tenant move in.
The rain water from these units is being collected into a very large tank and is supplied to the units.
Special Apex Homes Meeting
On 22nd June 2006 a special meeting was called by the Board to write a new constitution and elect a new board. This had to happen as the Apex Club was going to fold.
The first meeting of the new board was on 17th July 2006.
12th April 2014
Stage 7 the Ray Apps Memorial Units were opened by Mara Apps (wife of the late Ray Apps) Norm Napper, Bernie Crowe & Alf McCarthy.
