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By Jenaya Bodger, Bond University journalism student
Varsity Lakes Bendigo Community Bank recently donated $5000 to the local Hear and Say Centre to help children with hearing impediments as part of their ongoing commitment to supporting the community.
The donation is one of many that the bank has contributed to local organisations and residents since it opened in September 2008.
The $5000 went towards sponsoring a child through six months of the Hear and Say Golden Wings program that provides therapy and counselling for the child as well as parent education.
Robin Simon from the Hear and Say Centre said donations like this were needed to look after the children.
“It costs about ten thousand dollars a year per child for these programs and we currently have 500 children, without donations like this we wouldn’t be able to provide our service,” said Robin.
“The government gives us 30% of our funding which is enough to keep our program running for 15 weeks of the year, the rest is our fundraising so we work very hard to keep it going.”
“We especially appreciate donations when they come from the local community, our centre in Varsity Lakes benefitted directly from the donation which went straight on to the child,” Robin said.
Tom Hansen, who is second in charge at the Varsity Lakes Bendigo Community Bank, said their purpose was to give something back.
“The residents invested in the bank and we invest almost half of our profits back into the community, that is what differentiates us from the other banks,” he said.
Tom said that the bank is open to all ideas as long as they benefit the local community.
“So far this year our projects have been as varied as the donation to the Hear and Say Centre, the Varsity Lakes Run for Fun and the RSPCA Million Paws Walk,” he said.
“And the residents get a say in where the money goes as well, it’s not just the bank manager and directors who decide.”
The idea of the Bendigo Community Bank began 10 years ago and aims at providing a friendly and professional service whilst playing an active role in enhancing the long term economic prospects of the community.
Tom believes it is the personalised service and having a manager that lives in the area that have made the Bendigo Community Banks so successful.
“We aim to achieve high customer satisfaction and I believe that is why we have such loyal customers,” he said
The Bank is one of six Bendigo Community Banks on the Gold Coast.
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