Sticking together has arguably never been more important than over the past couple of years, with bushfires, a global pandemic, and widespread flooding all coming in quick succession.
It’s why we’ve stuck with you through our #GreaterMidNorthCoast Community Funding Program, which has now surpassed the $50,000 milestone invested in the region.
Greater Bank has proudly been part of the Mid North Coast community since 1980. As a customer-owned bank, it’s in our DNA to support the communities that support us, and we see enormous value in giving back to the organisations that help make our communities even better places to live.
The #GreaterMidNorthCoast community funding program was launched in November 2020 and since then has provided $51,000 to 51 community groups across the region. Each month, $3,000 is split among three community groups from across the region - $2,000 goes to the organisation that receives the most community votes and $500 each for the two runners up.
A recent winner was Oxley Island Community Hall at Taree, which is more than 100 years old and maintained by a small group of volunteers. The hall’s function manager, Angela Budden, said COVID restrictions meant they were unable to hire the hall out for some time, costing them their primary source of income.
“We haven’t been able to raise enough funds over the past 12 months to pay our regular expenses, so this funding from Greater Bank could not have been more timely,”
Angela Budden, Oxley Island Community Hall
“As well as being a meeting place for the local community, we are planning to put in a new water tank and generator to help make our hall compliant as emergency accommodation in case of fire or flood.
“We also need a disabled bathroom and a laundry to bring the hall up to evacuation centre standards, so we are most appreciative of this money from the Greater, which will go towards achieving those goals.”
Greater Bank’s Mid North Coast Regional Sales Manager, Jennifer Smith, said the community involvement is one of the best things about the program.
“It’s fantastic that the public gets to choose the winner through an online vote each month,” Jennifer said.
“The not-for-profit or charitable organisations nominated each month – sporting clubs, school P & C Associations, Rotary Clubs, community health organisations and more – use social media, newsletters, regular meetings, email and whatever other means they have at their disposal to encourage their communities to vote.
“This also has the benefit of promoting these organisations to potential new members, as everyone voting gets to know a little bit about all three nominees – which often includes groups people may not be familiar with.
“We are extremely proud to play a small part in helping these community groups achieve their goals and make a difference amongst the local community, especially considering the difficult conditions everyone has had to deal with over the past couple of years.”
Community groups can nominate by visiting greater.com.au/greatermidnorthcoast and explaining in 100 words or less, how their organisation helps improve the lives of locals.
The public can vote online at greater.com.au/greatermidnorthcoast to decide the winner.
While hitting the $50,000 mark is a tremendous milestone, we look forward to many more years of sticking together and supporting the communities that support us. And to all those organisations who make this program possible, we say Good On Ya!