In the 1960s Alan was the mayor of Wingham Municipal Council and made land available to Apex to create the park. 

Additionally, until Wingham Apex was wound down in the 90s, the park was maintained by hard working Apex volunteers.

Council’s Draft Open Space Improvement Plan has highlighted a number of parks and reserves in Wingham that are proposed to be either reduced in size and subdivided or sold off completely. It is unclear if funds raised from the sale of the open land will directly benefit the people of Wingham.

The Wingham Chronicle asked Alan how he felt about the proposed subdivision of Apex Park. “Things that did matter don’t matter anymore,” said Alan, with a tear rolling down his cheek. “At 90 years old, you still feel pretty strong about yesterday and the things you tried to do.

“This is one of the reasons I protested,” Alan said, reminiscing about his time as the president of the Wingham Anti Amalgamation Action Group, formed in protest of the amalgamation of local councils into GTCC.

“We tried. We did it the proper way, too. I wasn’t a great believer that big is beautiful. We tried all the way up to 1980.

“What council is going to do is what council wants to do. The probably thing it’s in the best interests so you’ve got to give them credit for thinking like that,” said Alan graciously.

Graham Urquhart, a more recent member of Apex, is also not happy.

“I’m extremely disappointed. Mainly for the man hours and the amount of work Apex have done.

“I think they are disrespecting Apex members and the countless hours of charity work done for the town,” said Graham.

“I can understand what the council is doing because Wingham Apex is now defunct,” said Tony Quinn, an Apex life member. “They can’t take it all away from the history of the town.

“I don’t think it’s right. Alan gave his life to this town. It’s sad to see this sort of thing just for the dollars,” said Tony.

Feelings are running high in other parts of the community also. Mave Richardson and author Di Morrissey have both written impassioned letters to our editor about the proposed sell off of green spaces in Wingham.

“We can’t just callously dump our community assets and deny future generations,” said GTCC councillor Peter Epov.

“Take an example of what is assumed to be the sleepy little Apex Park in Wingham. It has a beautiful playground, an area where kids run and play and indeed participate in a number of loosely organised ‘backyard’ style games of cricket, football and soccer.

“It has a picnic area, young mothers bring their children to the playground and kids use the park after school and in the school holidays to play. 

“Where do the kids play on holidays? Do we want them to roam our streets? The place will become a construction zone!” said councillor Epov.

The Wingham Chronicle has asked questions of GTCC regarding the plan, but to date no answers have been returned.

Councillor Epov urges anyone  concerned about the Draft Open Space Improvement Plan to visit http://www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au/council/feedback/draft-open-space-improvement-plan/ to read the plan and to write to council with their concerns.