“We always try to do something different each year. He’s come in many forms, whether it’s been skydiving or on a canoe, in a boat, on a Harley, in a fire truck,” Inverell Apex president Matthew Verri said.

“We thought a mobility scooter would be something different. We’re scraping the bottom of the barrel at the moment, trying to find different things every year,” he admitted. 

The big red man’s visit was just part of the fun for the hundreds of families who walked through the Campbell Park festivities. Free lollies and carnival rides along the river proved popular for the kids and local clubs and charities raised funds with food stalls.

The club are looking to add a fireworks display to next year’s carnival.

While there was no ticket price, Apex was still able to donate $1000 in proceeds to the Movember Foundation, adding to $200 raised by club members sporting stylish facial hair for the past month.

As a club for young males which recognised some of the recent losses impacting the Inverell community, Matthew said Apex connected with Movember’s cause.

“The Movember Foundation is promoted to stop men dying too young, whether it be due to mental health issues or health issues such as prostate-type issues, so we thought that would be quite good,” he said. 

Matthew said with only eight current members, he would love to see more community-minded men aged between 18-45 consider joining Apex. He said along with the carnival, Apex assist in many community events, maintain Apex park facilities and help out locals in need.

The club meet at the Australian Hotel at 7.30pm each first and third Thursday of the month.