Volunteer directors keep Community Bank on track

WHAT do a newsagency owner, agricultural machine supplier, retired accountant, wool grower, real estate agent, civil contractor, retired barrister, marketing and business sdvisor, surf life saving club manager, and a retired farmer have in common?

They are the volunteer directors that make up a local Community Bank board.

The Surf Coast Community Bank group has been active in this region for 19 years and has developed into a key contributor towards the financial needs for many community groups.

The three branches at Winchelsea, Anglesea and Lorne are collectively run by a board of community connected volunteer directors, who consistently give up their time and expertise to ensure the branches are run professionally and adhere to the important governance of the Bendigo Community Bank business model.

Four of the present directors, John Knuckey, Ken McDonald, Robert “Charlie” Earl, and John Tebbutt were inaugural members of the board 19 years ago and continue to this day provide their skill and passion.

The Winchelsea branch was first to open in November of 2003 and the Anglesea branch opened in 2005. Anglesea locals, Pamela Sandlant, Andrew Jones, Raylene Fordham, and Paul Nigro now represent the surf side township as directors.

With the opening of the Lorne branch in 2017, this coincided with Garry Fenton joining the directors to provide a Lorne community perspective. Former local accountant Gerard Kelly has also been a recent acquisition to the group and brings a new set of important skills to the very diverse group.

Collectively, the branches are now holding more than $450 million of business, which has generated more than $3.2 million in vital local community funding throughout the existence.

As well as providing important smaller financial contributions to schools, environmental groups and charities within the communities, the Community Bank has been able to provide much larger funding assistance to larger projects such as the Anglesea Fire Station, Lorne Hospital, Modewarre Football Netball Club and contributing towards the rebuild of the Winchelsea Op Shop.

Over our journey, the local knowledge and connection of the board members has been invaluable by collaborating with the Surf Coast Council, state government and bodies associated with the building of the projects.

All communities big and small require leaders to provide the important fabric to make sure things run smoothly and evolve with the times.

This group of well credentialed and progressive volunteer directors have been vital to the ongoing local success of the Community Bank model, which was developed in 1998 by the Bendigo Bank.

The Surf Coast branches are perfect example of the successful execution of the original intention, but our hat is tipped towards our volunteer directors who have given so much to make it successful for others.

Locals choosing to bank locally are inherently supporting other locals and groups through the successes of the Surf Coast Community Bank team.

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