Kristyna Brown, accompanied by children Liam and Kaisey, was one of the first to sign on as a shareholder in the new bank. Waiting in line as Upper Yarra Community Enterprise director Catherine Aulich handles the paperwork are Emily Robbins, her grandmother Eileen Robbins, and Judy McMath.By Kath Gannaway
MORE than $350,000 was invested by supporters of the new Yarra Junction District Community Bank Branch (YJDCBB) in less than a week following the official launch of the bank prospectus on 11 December.
A steady stream of “mum and dad” shareholders waited patiently in line to hand over cheques and cash on the night in what the YJDCBB steering committee chairman Jaqui Hall described as a fabulous indication of the future of the Warburton Highway’s fourth Bendigo Bank branch.
Shareholdings have since risen to the minimum of $500,000 but the committee wants to press on to $750,000.
“We want people to continue to get their share offers in to be a part of it,” Ms Hall said.
“We are thrilled with the response and the fact that even at this very busy time of the year, the money is still coming in.”
More than 200 people attended the launch at the Upper Yarra Secondary College, including representatives of Bendigo Bank and Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd, the company formed in September 2007 to run the established Warburton branch and the new Yarra Junction branch.
Ms Hall spoke with emotion of the initial dream of the Yarra Junction Business Development Group (YJBDG) to revive the Yarra Junction and district communities.
“Every time we came up with an idea or plan, even something as simple as painting the wall of a shop that was derelict, we got to the issue of money,” she said.
“Two years ago someone asked me if I would like to make a difference to Yarra Junction. They said the way to make that difference was to look at the possibility of a community bank.”
Ms Hall said that within a matter of months of taking the suggestion back to the YJBDG, a steering committee had been formed.
Since launching the campaign for a community bank the group had been swept along by the community spirit, energy and pledges of support shown by the Yarra Junction communities.
Rodney McKail, chairman of Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd., congratulated the steering committee on their enthusiasm and commitment and gave an insight into the future benefits for Yarra Junction communities.
He said that over the past three and a half years the Warburton Community Bank had distributed $600,000 to community projects.
“What’s important is to build on the interdependence of these Upper Yarra communities,” he said.
“We have had great successes with one branch. Imagine what we can achieve with the power of two. My view is that there are no boundaries.”
The Yarra Junction branch is scheduled to open in February and Ms Hall is calling on people who have not as yet honoured their pledge to buy shares to put pen to chequebook and maintain the momentum.
For further information contact Ms Hall on 5966 6258.
