Our Chalet is a magical 24-bed retreat intended for rest and play, just a stone’s throw away from Mt Kosciuszko.
We welcome underprivileged, disadvantaged, chronically ill, and disabled children, together with their families and carers, to the Chalet for the trip of a lifetime.
This retreat is perfect for keen adventurers and restful souls alike, with plenty of potential for exploring the surrounding bushland in summer and frolicking in winter snow.
HISTORY OF THE CHALET
“To an underprivileged child, the Snowy is a magic area”
— Berry Waterman
Over 40,000 kids have enjoyed the delights of the Chalet since it was built in 1979. Here’s a little bit of the Chalet’s wondrous history...
It all began with the dream of one hard-working Sydney social worker named Berry Waterman, who had been taking underprivileged children on holidays to the Snowy Mountains for years. When the cost of doing so became too prohibitive, Apex Australia stepped in to help.
In 1978, Apex National President Graham Salter was given the task of finding a suitable site for a holiday retreat in the region.
Once a site was found in Smiggin Holes and a lease granted by the NSW government, the work on “Operation Magic Castle” could begin.
Building this magic castle in a nearly inaccessible site within a tight 8-month schedule was no easy feat, given that the cost would be near $125,000 and that it would be difficult to rally the number of Apex members needed to bring Berry Waterman’s dream to life. But rally they did, especially with former builder Ian French on board as full-time project organiser.
Construction officially kicked off on the 13th of November 1978. With the help of over 530 volunteer Apex members, many of whom travelled thousands of kilometres to donate their time, labour, and resources to the project, construction on the Chalet was completed in July of 1979.
In October 1979, the International Year of the Child, the Apex Children’s Chalet was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, who also pledged $50,000 towards the upkeep of the “Magic Castle”.
Today, the majority of maintenance work on the Chalet is carried out by current and former Apex members on a volunteer basis.
Bills for Beds
As our oldest Apex retreat, the Chalet needs continuous support from the community to keep serving disadvantaged children and their carers.
Here’s how your donations could help:
- $395 — This amount would cover the purchase and ongoing maintenance of the beds in the Chalet, for things like new mattresses, doonas, and pillows. Your generous contribution gives you or your Apex Club naming rights to one of the Chalet beds.
- $2,000 — This amount would cover the upkeep of one of the Chalet bedrooms and would also go towards our heating bills (as you can imagine, keeping things warm in the alpine region can be very expensive!). Your generous contribution would be forever memorialised by the Chalet in the form of a plaque affixed to the door, along with naming rights to the bedroom for 2 years.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Booking Information
During the ski season (from the 1st Monday in June to the 1st Monday in October) preference will be given to recognised organisations (e.g. registered charities, schools and service clubs) that are providing services to those who fall into one or more of the categories set out in the Trust Deed.
From 1 March each year the Chalet Committee will consider booking requests for the upcoming ski season that are not from a recognised organisation provided the booking is in respect of individuals, families and carers, with or without their chronically ill and disabled children, and persons wishing to take adults with intellectual disabilities.
Requests by others may also be given consideration by the Chalet Committee but will receive no priority over the groups identified in the Trust Deed.
0493 171 870
apexchalet@apexfoundation.org.au
Ski Season
from the 1st Monday of June until the 1st Monday in October
*Total cost includes $200 non-refundable deposit and an additional bond payment of $750 is required.
Non-Ski Season
If not previously paid, a bond of $750 is required. Any shortfall in the bond amount must be topped up.
*Total cost includes $200 non-refundable deposit and an additional bond payment of $750 is required.
Important Information
- No pets
- No running anywhere in the Chalet, especially on the stairs
- No smoking within the confines of the Chalet
- No cigarette butts to be discarded on the Chalet grounds
- All waste and discards to be placed in rubbish bins
- Keep the Chalet clean
- All rubbish to be deposited in the waste disposal bins located near the Smiggins Holes service sheds on the main Perisher Valley Road
- There are industrial vacuum cleaners within the Chalet. Please vacuum the chalet regularly during your stay and especially directly before you leave. Please ensure that the bathrooms and toilets are scrubbed clean before you leave ready for the next group. There are adequate mops, buckets and cleaning utensils in the kitchen and pantry storage. Please wash and wipe up regularly and keep the kitchen and dining room tidy.
- Please ensure that all rubbish is taken to the industrial waste bins located near the Smiggin Holes work depot at the main road.
- Do not leave any rubbish outside the back door of the chalet as it attracts rats and foxes.
- Any underprivileged children’s organisation, in any State of Australia, can apply for accommodation at the Children’s Chalet, Smiggins Holes for up to one week
- Any group or organisation of physically or mildly intellectually disabled people in any State of Australia can also apply for accommodation as outlined
- However, because of the difficulties associated with access over snow to the accommodation, use of the Chalet in winter for any physically disabled may be a problem
- The Chalet will be made available to wheelchair bound persons from any organisation in Australia. However, we should advise of the difficulty that can be had in winter months with transport over snow. We recommend wheelchair access in warmer months
- All groups will take out their own insurance to cover, travel, workers compensation, staff and voluntary workers as well as liability insurance for the conveyance of the children from their domestic residence to the Apex Children’s Chalet and return. They will not hold the Committee or the Apex Foundation liable for any accident, mishap or loss that may occur at any stage while they are within the precincts of the Chalet or the Region
- All organisations must supply their own supervisors, who preferably will be qualified to deal with the special needs of the children in their care and hold a current First Aid Certificate. The organisation will be held fully responsible for the conduct of their respective group whilst they are resident at the Chalet and when the children move around the Snowy Mountains area
- The Chalet may be available to children and young persons. If the children are of mixed sexes, it would be preferable if a married couple accompanied the group. If there are mixed sexes, there should be mixed sex supervisors
- Children under 6 years of age may be permitted to use the chalet if their older brother or sister is also using the chalet. In this case the parents or guardian of the under aged person should be part of the supervising adult group
- Each group resident in the Chalet must take their own linen, towels and pillow cases and provide their own food for the duration of their stay. No financial support will come from the Committee or the Apex Foundation. All expenses are the group’s responsibility
- Each group will maintain the cleanliness and good order of the Chalet. Prior to vacating, the Chalet should be vacuumed on all floors and stairs. The shower blocks and toilets should be cleaned. The Chalet is to be left clean and tidy for following groups
- A declaration of cleanliness for each group will be found on the noticeboard in the main living area. The supervisor for the group should inspect the Chalet before full occupation. Should any significant damage or unsatisfactory conditions he found these should be recorded in the declaration of cleanliness which will be signed and forwarded, together with the completed Accommodation Inspection Report to the Secretary as soon as practicable
- During heavy snow each resident supervisor is required, by the rules on entry, to initiate action with their children to clean down the fire escapes and rear balconies to be totally free of heavy snow bank-up. This is a requirement of the Board of Fire Commissioners
- Children or adults will not:
- run in the Chalet, particularly up or down the stairs, interior or exterior (the stairs can be extremely slippery during winter)
- use obscene or abusive language either inside or outside the Chalet
- At all times, the personal and individual conduct of persons using the Chalet must be exemplary for the good name of the Apex Clubs of Australia and the groups using the Chalet
- All children must be supervised in the bathroom area during personal bathing time
- Any child who becomes ill with any contagious ailment must be placed in the separate isolation room and the Chalet Committee must be informed by telephone of the nature of the problem
- All care must be taken with kitchen and laundry equipment to ensure it is not damaged and there are no accidents. The resident supervisor is held responsible to ensure that children are not allowed to work the machines, unless they are under the immediate and personal supervision of an adult
- On arrival a fire warden must be appointed by the group. All children in the lodge are to be processed through a nominated fire drill on the first day. The fire warden and/or group supervisor must be fully aware of the emergency procedure
- An emergency procedure and roll call list is included. You need to be familiar with the procedures and complete the roll call list which is to be used for the fire drill and in an emergency
- A control panel for the central heating system is located behind the mural on the 1st floor. These controls are preset by the Chalet Caretaker and are not to be altered without consultation with the Chalet Caretaker.
- Each group is to nominate a supervisor who will indemnify the Apex Foundation and/or the Management Committee of the Apex Children’s Chalet. The supervisor will be responsible for maintaining good relations between the group and occupants of the other lodges in the area. This person will complete the Indemnity Form which is contained in the booklet.
- Please refer to https://www.apexchalet.com.au/information-participating-groups page for details of fees and charges for using the Chalet. Bookings will be cancelled if the required fees and charges are not received by the due date
- The completed Indemnity Form and a copy of the completed Group Attendance Record, together with any other relevant documents, are to be forwarded to the Booking Officer no later than five weeks prior to the booking date to confirm the booking. Reminders of bookings are not issued
- Organisations using the Chalet must provide the following to the Booking Officer no later than five weeks prior to booking date
- Group Attendance Record
- Completed Indemnity Form
- Certificate of Currency for Appropriate Insurances
- The caretaker is to be contacted two weeks prior to arrival, to advise of the groups proposed attendance
- Caretaker’s contact number –
Chalet 02 6457 5320
- Caretaker’s contact number –
