By KATH GANNAWAY
WOORI Yallock Community Bank’s 10th birthday dinner and AGM was a night of announcements and recognition.
Shareholders joined bank directors and staff at the Woori Yallock Primary School hall to mark 10 years in which $900,000 has been returned to the community in sponsorship and grants, deposits have reached $90 million and shareholders were told to expect a 14 cent dividend.
Chairman Rick Shaw reflected on the phone call that led to the establishment of WYDCOM Financial Services Pty. Ltd. Which opened the community-owned branch of Bendigo Bank in 2004.
The call was four years earlier from the late Ian De La Rue who was instrumental in establishing the Warburton Community Bank.
He said he just wanted to bounce something off me… “would you like to become a director of a bank” and it turned out to be something we could own ourselves and something we could all get the benefit from,” Mr Shaw said.
“It’s been a hard ride some of the time, a fantastic ride all of the time,” he said adding that what had been achieved in 10 years was to give Woori Yallock town and the district a future.
Bendigo Bank regional manager Mark Nolan made a number of presentations including 10-year service certificates to directors Mr Shaw, Ray Gregson, Lisa Kennedy and Rob Thompson and branch manager Rick Tolsher, and thanked directors and staff for their commitment.
He made a special presentation to Mr Shaw who announced he was standing down as chairman.
“Rick represents this town of Woori Yallock very well and is very highly regarded not just in the region by fellow community bank chairs, but by the Bendigo Bank as a whole,” he said.
