The long journey by The Gawler Apex Club, Gawler Vintage & Classic Vehicles Club and Black Ops – Veterans Garage to find a home where they could support their members has ended with a positive outcome.

The clubs have found themselves a new home alongside the Apex Club on a site owned by the South Australian State Emergency Services (SASES), on Two Wells Road, Willaston.

After extensive discussions facilitated by State Member for Light, Tony Piccolo MP, the three clubs have agreed to share a site and established an incorporated body known as ABC Inc to manage a portion of land that SASES has agreed to lease for up to 42 years.

“While working with SASES on the Gawler Unit, there was discussions about Gawler Apex Club extending their lease on some of the land, so I asked the club if they’d be willing to share the site, organised a meeting and it went from there—a big thank you to APEX,” Mr Piccolo said.

“Many clubs have difficulties in the current climate to gather the resources needed to establish and operate their own workshops/clubrooms, so it made sense to encourage the three clubs to work together as they exist in the same community.”

“While pride and history are important to many clubs, it’s not lost when they join together to share facilities it’s simply another chapter to the story—in everyday life, communities rally to help one another out and we’re certainly seeing that in this project.”

Gawler Apex Club member Leon Budden said, “the club is thrilled to be part of the ABC project, providing a stable base for all clubs to host services and assist the greater Gawler community.”

The Town of Gawler waived fees and offered support throughout the planning process in what Mayor Karen Redman said, “allows their funds to be used for the core purpose of building the new community facilities.”

“Council welcomes the development as it showcases how like-minded community organisations can work collaboratively to deliver positive community outcomes,” Mayor Redman said.

The Black Ops – Veterans Garage had recently received $250,000 as part of a Malinauskas Labor Government election commitment for the construction of the purpose-built garage, while the Gawler Vintage & Classic Vehicles Club Inc wanted a new combined workshop/clubroom, but neither group had space available.

Black Ops - Veterans Garage founder and CEO, Jonny Spicer, said this new community hub will aid their non-for-profit charity that has run purely on donations since establishment in 2019.

“Created by a couple of returned servicemen, sick of losing many of their friends and hearing about the large number of Veteran suicides in the community and Australia wide, upon returning home after war service,” Mr Spicer said.

“We are based on the "Men's shed" concept, designed to offer non-clinical peer support and provide purposefulness through workshop projects.”

Gawler Vintage & Classic Vehicles Club Inc president Gavin Frost is pleased his club “can continue their 40-year tradition of providing vintage vehicle enthusiasts with a space to network, restore, volunteer and fundraise to support other service groups and community groups in the Gawler and surrounding area.”

“The ABC Hub is an exciting new community project and will be an asset and change lives for not only the Gawler Car Club, but also to Apex, Black Ops and the wider community,” Mr Frost said.

The Rotary Club of Gawler has also chipped in funds and helped with the planning and designing of the project free of charge, with past president Mark Smeaton proud their club “can support this fantastic community project.”

SASES Chief Officer Chris Beattie was glad their “collaboration with the three community groups throughout the planning state of the new Gawler Unit has been a win for all involved.”

With development approval now issued, the clubs are now finalising plans before construction will commence in the coming months.