Community Bank® branches are making contributions to communities which go beyond simply banking. These are some of their stories.
It’s full steam ahead.
Wentworth community’s fundraising efforts have been boosted by a $15,000 contribution from its local bank branch. The dollars will go towards getting one of the town’s oldest icons, the Ruby Paddle Steamer, back on the water.
Let’s make tracks.
The kids of Lang Lang Primary School can now enjoy a safe new path from the schoolyard to the Arboretum Reserve. The paths construction was funded, in part, by a $7,500 donation. The finishing touch will be 700 trees to be planted by the kids themselves.
Maldon Community Bank® is a driving force.
Maldon’s young locals are gearing up to improve their confidence and skill behind the wheel. The local branch has allocated profits to providing driver education courses to 80 of Maldon's newest drivers.
Cleaning up the Upwey way.
Nearly every bit of public and private infrastructure in the cosy little township of Upwey is now free of graffiti. A grant donated by the Upwey and District branch enabled the clean up which had been previously threatened by a funding shortfall.
No more hand-me-downs.
York Football Club junior team members were decked out in brand new jumpers. The locally-owned branch replaced 75 jumpers that have been passed through the Club’s junior ranks for the past eight years.
Plane sailing, at last.
The East Gosford Branch has donated $10,000 for state-of-the-art training boats for the Gosford Sailing Club. The new boats will be used by youngsters during the school holidays.
Cooking up a storm.
The South Australian community of Virginia has donated $75,000 of its branch profits to install an industrial kitchen in the Virginia Community Centre. Another community-based organisation, the Virginia Horticultural Centre, will donate a further $125,000 to the project. The kitchen will provide a valuable training facility for young people.
Carrum Downs to the rescue.
When the Skye Fire Brigade began an appeal for a new $70,000 fire truck, the local board kickstarted the fundraising with a $14,000 grant from branch profits. The community then raised a further $11,000 but was still facing a $45,000 shortfall as the 2004/2005 fire season approached. The branch came to the rescue, and donated the remaining funds to ensure the brigade had its fire truck for the beginning of the fire season.
Hospice beds for Upwey.
Funding for the Fernlea House hospital is guaranteed for the next five years. Upwey & District branch has allocated $40,000 to the hospital to purchase medical equipment, fit-out of the building and to meet ongoing operating costs.
Parkdale arts scholarships.
Students studying in the disciplines of music, literature, dance and visual arts have been recognised by Parkdale Branch. One student in each of these disciplines has received a $10,000 scholarship to further their studies. The branch has also awarded $1000 to each of the 17 schools in its district – the school to award the funding to a student who has been judged by the school to have excelled in a particular area.
Seen & Heard in Mundaring, WA.
The board of Mundaring Branch has allocated $4000 to assist the Parkerville Children’s Home’s local youth service Seen & Heard. The service provides information, support and resources for young people during difficult times.
Junior Observors.
Several communities, including Windsor in Victoria and Forrestfield in WA, have undertaken a youth mentoring role. These two boards have appointed local Year 11 students to sit on their boards as Junior Observors. The young people sit in on all board meetings and are invited to put forward the views of young people in the community. The young people are treated as directors of the company and abide by all of the corporate governance rules and regulations facing directors of public companies.