The Community Bank Maldon & District held a party on Bank Corner last Wednesday afternoon to celebrate 25 years of service. From the ages of eight to 80 (and beyond!), a keen crowd came together to enjoy some music, a snag courtesy of the Maldon Golf Club and an ice cream or two.  

Those attending the event included past and present Bank staff and directors. Some of the original pledgers were also present – these are the people who stumped up the initial funding required to open a community bank in Maldon.

The Bendigo Bank established its community banking model in 1998, and the Community Bank Maldon & District was the tenth Bendigo community bank to be set up. Today, there are more than 300 Bendigo community bank branches across Australia.

Since opening in 1999, the Community Bank Maldon & District has been a success story, and has given back $3.8 million to the community as well as providing a full range of banking services.         

The Bank’s Chair Ross Egleton and Manager Paul Simmons both spoke at the celebration.  Ross had a major announcement to make, although he wasn’t giving away too much. Over the next five years, the Bank is intending to invest $1 million in a major project; the theme will be People, Place and Planet. At present, the details of the project are being finalised and the broader community will be invited to present some ideas in the coming months.  

What’s a birthday party without a cake? Of course there was one, made by Rebecca from the Maldon Bakery. The cake was cut at the end of the celebration by Ross and Maldon resident Ralph Fuller. Ralph chaired the steering committee that helped to establish the Bank.  

This article appeared in the  Tarrangower Times, 3 May 2024.