Banking on community branch

ESTABLISHING a community bank in Yarra Junction will be one of the topics up for discussion at a business dinner to be held in the town next week.
Yarra Junction’s Business Development Group will hold a dinner and business information evening on Tuesday, 18 April, at the Yarra Valley Archery Park.
A number of guest speakers will address a wide range of topics and issues facing the local business community.
Among the guest speakers will be representatives from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, the Bendigo Bank and the local media.
Yarra Junction Business Development treasurer, Jaqui Hall, said the group hoped the business dinners would become a regular event.
“The executive of our business group meets regularly and discusses a range of important issues facing our community and we wanted to open that up to all businesses in the area,” she said.
“We thought a business dinner would give everybody the chance to come together socially and be informed.”
Ms Hall said a representative from the Bendigo Bank would attend the first dinner meeting to talk about what is involved in setting up a branch and what the benefits to local businesses might be.
“We also want to see if we can garner some interest from local businesses who might be willing to join a working party to look at the need for a community bank in Yarra Junction,” she said.
Ms Hall said representatives from the Shire of Yarra Ranges would talk about a range of subjects of interest to local businesses.
“Representatives from the shire will talk about town planning issues for Yarra Junction and opportunities, initiatives and support for businesses in Yarra Junction to develop,” she said.
“The shire will also bring us up to date on a range of projects happening in and around Yarra Junction, such as the proposed expansion of the Safeway supermarket.”
The dinner meeting will also be a good opportunity for businesses to find out more about the Yarra Junction Business Development Group’s activities, Ms Hall said.
“It will give people a chance to see what our group is on about and they’ll be able to find out ways they can get involved, and give us feedback at the same time,” she said.
The dinner, which commences at 7pm, is open to all businesses and individuals interested in business in the Yarra Junction and the surrounding district.
Tickets are $25 per person and include a two-course meal. For more information or to make a booking, contact Jaqui Hall, at Flowers and Flavours, on 5967 1339.