There will be a trio of celebrations at the official grand opening of the Bendigo Bank Community Pavilion at Permaculture Noosa Cooroy Community Gardens on Saturday 2 September from 2pm-8pm.
Open for the community to enjoy sustainable and eco-friendly activities, workshops and entertainment, the event is set perfectly with Bendigo Community Bank Cooroy’s 21st birthday celebrations and Community Bank Hero Awards (for the Cooroy, Marcoola and Tewantin-Noosa branches).
Cooroy Branch Manager Steve Clarke said it will be an afternoon and evening of showing appreciation to our local heroes and giving back to the community.
“There will be presentations on the power of permaculture, activities for kids such face painting, henna and hair braiding, creating mandalas, building a bee hotel, pizza from the cob oven, sausage sizzle and chai,” Steve said.
“Special guests for the opening include internationally recognised permaculture educators Geoff Lawton and Morag Gamble, Bendigo Community Bank Sunshine Coast team and Mayor Clare Stewart.”
It all started twenty years ago, when the community of Cooroy united to fight back against the Big Banks leaving town.
Faced with the possibility of no local banking services, several courageous business leaders united to form Cooroy Community Financial Services Limited, now called Sunshine Coast Community Financial Services Limited (SCCFSL). These individuals partnered with Bendigo Bank to provide the Cooroy Community Bank.
Today, they’re the proud providers of three Bendigo Community Banks in Cooroy, Marcoola and Tewantin-Noosa. The secret to the bank’s success can be attributed to its profit-for-a-purpose model, which sees a majority of the profits generated by each Community Bank directed back to the community.
“We want to thank our community bank customers for their support, our team members for delivering great service to our community, our shareholders for backing our community and our locally based directors for their hard work and dedication,” Steve said.
“It’s the local community energy and support that allows us to reinvest so much back into our great region.
“Our commitment to supporting customers and the local community remains unchanged and the team looks forward to serving the Cooroy community for many years to come.”
Finding every chance they can to give back, the team has launched the Bendigo Community Banks Community Hero Program, which honours individuals who have displayed outstanding service to their community, as selected by a volunteer committee.
The chosen heroes will be revealed during the Bendigo Community Bank 21st Birthday Celebrations, where a winner will be selected from each of the three bank areas (Tewantin-Noosa, Marcoola and Cooroy). Each winner will be honoured with an award from the Bendigo Community Bank Sunshine Coast and a generous donation of $5000 towards the charity of their choice.
“These heroes are people who have dedicated time and creativity towards uplifting and enriching the lives of others, earning them well-deserved recognition as true champions for good,” Steve said.
“You should nominate individuals that have been active in non-for-profit/community organisations that benefit or improve the quality of life in Noosa and Sunshine Coast Shire area on a volunteer basis and who devotes a substantial amount of their personal time to those activities (scouting, sports, charities, etc.) and has made a significant impact and contribution to their community.”
Bring your friends, family, and neighbours along for a day filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories on Saturday 2 September from 2pm-8pm at Emerald Street, Cooroy (outside Cooroy Community Gardens).
Nominate a hero online now at sunnycoastcommunityconnection.com.au/community-hero-awards
