Woombye & Districts Community Bank Branch

a franchise operated by Woombye & Districts Community Enterprises Pty Ltd.

We love Woombye and supporting the community!

This page was created to showcase our beautiful, historic town and the community that we are a part of. We hope you enjoy scrolling through the photos, videos and other fun content that we share here. If you have any photos or stories you would like to share here please send them through via our contact page. Your community bank board: Alison Krueger, Damien King, Jill Kuramoto, Leigh Watkins, Margaret Sweeney and Stephen Marshall.

our mascot piggy on his day out in woombye

WHY CHOOSE A COMMUNITY BANK?

  • How Community Banking is different?

    • A competitive range of banking products and services.

    • Locally owned and operated by the community for the community.

    • We are a local business, keeping money in local economies and employing local people.

    Community Banking is based on a ‘profit-with-purpose’ model, which means our profits are returned directly to the community that has generated them – people living in Woombye and surrounding districts that means you!

    We call this ‘shared value’ and it is a foundation of our Community Bank model. We are owned by our shareholders who are members of our community.

  • Thanks to our customers choosing to bank with us we are able to make a real difference in our community.

    Our customer’s home loans are helping build parks and infrastructure. Personal loans and credit cards are getting much needed funding to local rural fire services, mental health organisations and disabled facilities.

    We are able to give back to our community through community impact grants, local sponsorships and donations.

    We work closely with our local schools, sporting clubs, not-for-profit organisations and community groups to find ways to better our community and help our community thrive.

  • How can you contribute and start to see the benefits of our community bank?

    • Open bank accounts

    • Refinance or establish a home loan with us

    • Invest your savings

    • Take up insurance and financial products

    Moving your bank accounts so that they fall under Woombye branch will ensure that part of the profits made from your accounts will be put back into the Woombye community.

  • For information on the banking services we provide, please visit the official Bendigo Bank website

 
 
Bendigo Bank Piggy Mascot standing with members of the rural fire brigade at their station

are you apart of an incorporated community or not-for-profit organisation?

This community impact grants program is administered by Community Bank Woombye & Districts. Being part of Bendigo Bank is about being part of something bigger. In addition to providing terrific banking and financial services, we are also eager to support meaningful initiatives and projects that enhance the local community via our Community Impact Grants program. By banking with us, our customers are also helping to support their communities through our impact grants program.

we would love to hear from you!

We encourage all incorporated and not-for-profit organisations within the Woombye & Districts community to get in contact to find out more about how our impact grants program could make a difference for you.

 
grant applications now open, applications close 30th June 2025 image of Bendigo Piggy with the rural fire service spraying the hose

All GRANT applications are now run through smarty grants

If you have any questions are need assistance with the application process, please get in contact.

 
 

Sponsorship for your local club or organisation

Do you belong to a club or organisation that could benefit from some major sponsorship? We would love to help! Being part of Bendigo Bank is about being part of something bigger. While we provide excellent banking and financial services, we also pride ourselves on giving back to our community. By banking with us, our customers are also helping to support their communities through our sponsorship program. Our community sponsorship program facilitates mutually beneficial partnerships with eligible organisations in our community.

we would like to make a commitment to you

Sponsorship requires commitment from both you and us. Get in touch and let us know how you can support us - perhaps mentioning us on your social media and adding branded signage. We are able to provide these sponsorship deals thanks to our customers, we would love to see more customers banking with us so we can continue to offer worthwhile sponsorships.

 
Sponsorship Applications now open applications close 30th June 2025 image of Bendigo piggy playing lawn bowls at the woombye bowls club

All sponsorship applications are now run through smarty grants

If you have any questions are need assistance with the application process, please get in contact.

 

PHOTO COMPETITION – 2026 COMMUNITY BANK CALENDAR

Enter your favourite Woombye photo into our exhibition to be in with a chance of featuring in our 2026 Community Bank Woombye & Districts Calendar to showcase our picturesque community!

  • The Guidelines:

    ✓ We want to see the Woombye through your eyes

    ✓ We welcome and encourage photographs of all ages and ability who live, work or study in Woombye, to capture an image that showcases its natural landscape and beauty, and how/why people enjoy living in the area (see Ts&Cs 17)

    ✓ Images must not include any business as the subject matter (iconic landmarks are acceptable)

    ✓ Images featuring people are welcomed and encouraged. Just ensure you obtain a SIGNED Photo Consent form for the people included. Download at www.welovewoombye.com/community-calendar

    ✓ Images must not be considered offensive

    ✓ Photographs need to be LANDSCAPE / HORIZONTAL DIRECTION (not portrait/vertical)

    ✓ Photographs need to be submitted in Jpeg JPG or PNG format

    ✓ Photographs need to be a minimum resolution 300kb (300dpi) for successful reproduction

    ✓ Digital enhancement – we would like images to be WITHOUT special effects or enhancements so minimal digital enhancement please. Black and white images and cropping acceptable.

    ✓ Maximum of TWO entries per person are accepted; ONE entry per entry form please

  • The Prizes - 12 Prizes out of a total prize pool of $2600

    ➢ Judge’s Choice – $500 Major Winner to be featured on the front cover and one calendar month

    ➢ Boards Choice - Winner $250 - Runner Up $150

    ➢ Community Bank Woombye & Districts Staff Choice - Winner $250 - Runner Up $150

    ➢ Under 18 Winner - Winner $250 - Runner Up - $150

    ➢ Under 12 Winner - Winner $250 - Runner Up - $150

    ➢ People’s Choice Winner - Winner $250 - Runner Up - $150 - Third Place $100

  • The Timeline

    ➢ ENTRIES OPEN 9AM MONDAY 2ND JUNE 2025 / ENTRIES CLOSE 5PM MONDAY 30TH JUNE 2025

    ➢ Online Exhibition and Calendar Competition Voting OPENS Tuesday 1st July 2025

    ➢ Online Exhibition and Calendar Competition Voting CLOSES Friday 1st August 2025

    ➢ Winners Announced on our Facebook Page and website Friday 5th September 2025

    ➢ 2026 Community Bank Calendars will be AVAILABLE at our Woombye branch late November

  • Terms and Conditions:

    1.       Instructions on how to enter form part of these Terms and Conditions. If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any other material, then these Terms and Conditions will override them.

    2.       The promoter is Woombye & Districts Community Enterprises Ltd who own and operate Woombye Community Bank, franchise of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited.

    3.       Entries to this competition close Monday 30th June at 5pm.

    4.       Photos will be used in an ONLINE exhibition on the welovewoombye.com website which will be on display from 01 July 2025 through to 01 August 2025.

    5.       The 12 Winning Photos will be chosen by a combination of: Judges who are independent community representatives with an interest in photography; ONLINE voting by the public; and Community Bank Branch staff and board members. All voting is coordinated and overseen by an employee of Woombye & Districts Community Enterprises Ltd

    6.       WDCE’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

    7.       Winning entries will be announced on FRIDAY 05 SEPTEMBER 2025 on our website and Facebook page, and all winners will be notified by email.

    8.       Each of the 12 successful photographers will receive 3 copies of the 2024 Calendar and their Prizemoney in accordance with their Award (Total Prize Pool of $2,600 with breakdown as listed on www.welovewoombye.com/community-calendar).

    9.       By submitting image/s you are providing consent to WDCE Limited to use your image in its 2026 Calendar, in company publications, and on their website and social media for publicity/marketing purposes.

    10.    By submitting image/s (maximum two) you are acknowledging that the photograph was taken by yourself and is not from any copyrighted sources.

    11.    Copyright remains with the photographer.

    12.    Previous entries to the competition are not to be submitted.

    13.    Entries featuring people must include a signed Photo Consent form - available at www.welovewoombye.com.au

    14.    Woombye Districts & Community Enterprises Ltd reserves the right to not accept entries that it deems offensive or inappropriate.

    15.    Eligible to win with only one entry.

    16.    Eligible to win only one category (will be awarded highest $ value prize if this occurs).

    17.    For the purposes of defining Woombye it includes townships of postcodes 4559 and 4560.

    18.    Your personal information is being collected for the purpose of entering you into the competition and will not be used for commercial purposes or shared.

    19.    Employees of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, Community Bank branches and their Company Boards are not eligible to enter.

    For further information about this competition email info@thebetterbank.com.au Woombye & Districts Community Enterprises Ltd

    (ABN 44 133 561 289), Franchisee of Woombye Community Bank branch. 1a/33 Blackall Street, Woombye QLD 4559 (02/2025)


How To Submit Your Entry

➢ Enter via the online entry form below - Entries will be open Monday 2nd June 2025

➢ If you have any queries, please email us at info@thebetterbank.com.au

ENTRIES CLOSE MONDAY 30th JUNE 2025

 

RAY GRACE AWARD

 

ABOUT RAY GRACE

Ray grace was a larger-than-life figure.

Renowned for his boundless generosity and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact for others. His greatest joy was using his influence to improve the lives of those around him.

Born in Boonah, Ray began his career by training as a motor mechanic before relocating to Nambour in 1959. He entered the business world by acquiring a service station, and over time, expanded into the motor vehicle industry. Ray eventually purchased a new and used car dealership, where he skillfully managed the day-to-day operations, leading his business to great success. In 1995, Ray semi-retired due to health concerns, yet his dedication to his community remained as strong as ever.

Ray's contributions to the Sunshine Coast community were vast and varied. He served for 32 years on the Sunshine Coast Show Society, volunteered for 17 years with Apex where he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for his service to Apex and the community, and 25 years with the Maroochy Aero Club. Additionally, he was President of the Nambour Chamber of Commerce for 10 years and was a board member of the Sundale Garden Village Nursing Home from 1965 to 1983.

Known for his creativity and enthusiasm, Ray had a knack for generating new and exciting ways to raise awareness for causes he cared about. His efforts helped raise funds for various charities, including the construction of a local swimming pool. He founded a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Energex Helicopter Rescue Service and was instrumental in establishing the Special Education Unit at Woombye State School. Ray also donated land from his own property to facilitate the creation of the Sunshine Valley Men’s Shed on Blackall Range Road.

One of Ray's most notable achievements was his pivotal role in the founding of the Woombye Community Bank Branch. He helped raise $699,310 in $1 share investments to enable the bank's opening in March 2009, and he continued to serve as a volunteer board director for the following decade, retiring in June 2019.

Ray was a firm believer in the power of community, often saying that being part of something larger than ourselves fosters a deep sense of connection and purpose. In fact, he was even presented with the Sunshine Coast Council Senior Citizen of the year award for his service to the community.

When Ray Grace passed away in 2019, the staff and board members of the Community Bank Woombye sought a meaningful way to honour his legacy.

Thus, the Ray Grace-Bendigo Community Bank Woombye Award was born.

ABOUT THE AWARD

This award celebrates Ray's enduring impact by highlighting the importance of individuals who, like Ray, demonstrate a heartfelt commitment to their community. We seek young people who take action on the issues that matter most to them, not only striving to better their own lives but also contributing to the broader community. The award recognizes those who show initiative and a willingness to take on responsibility, offering fresh and innovative solutions to life's challenges.

 

We love Woombye! and we love serving the community of Woombye!

That's what's behind Community Bank Woombye creating welovewoombye.com - it's an opportunity to give back to, to showcase, Woombye! We hope you enjoy this picture parade, and don’t forget, if you have a photograph you believe will enhance the site, click on the button at the bottom of this page and send it through! Your community bank board: Alison Krueger, Margaret Sweeney, Damien King, Leigh Watkins, Jill Kuramoto and Stephen Marshall