By KATH GANNAWAY
HEALESVILLE Community Bank celebrated its fifth birthday last week with a community street party including a photo display, sausage sizzle and a huge birthday cake to mark the milestone.
The bank, a community-owned franchise of the Bendigo Bank, opened its doors on 18 February 2011, after a two-year shareholder campaign.
New bank chairman Bruce Argyle thanked members of the original steering committee for their vision in pulling the community together to establish the bank, along with current and past board members and bank manager Wilma Gibson and her staff for their dedication and service to its customers.
Recognising the theme “Your Banking, Supporting Your Community” the birthday cake was cut by two of the bank’s loyal customers, Brian Luscome and Alex Collings, who also celebrated their birthdays on 18 February.
Mr Luscome, president of Healesville RSL, said just as the RSL had done over many decades, the bank was making a significant contribution to the Healesville community through its sponsorships of local community groups.
Mr Collings also noted the role the bank plays in the community and said he was pleased to be a part of that.
Mr Argyle invited bank customers, shareholders and community members to call in at the bank over the next two weeks to see the display of photos, showing the diverse range of local groups that community banking has supported in its first five years.
