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

 

PHOTO COMPETITION – WINNERS

RUN BY WOOMBYE COMMUNITY & BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

HANGING OUT IN WOOMBYE - EMMA CHONE

Major Winner - Judge's Choice-$500

BEERSHEBA DAY CEREMONY AT MEMORIAL PARK, WOOMBYE - CAMERON OUTRIDGE

First Prize - WCBA Choice-$250

THE BRAVEST HOOVES - SABRINA KATH

Runner Up -WCBA Choice -$150

WOOMBYE AT NIGHT - TERRY UPCROFT

First Prize - Bank Choice - $250

SUNSET OVER WOOMBYE VALLEY - ZOE HAWKINS

Runner Up - Bank Choice - $150

RELAXING IN WOOMBYE - MADDISON CRONE

First Prize - Under 18 - $250

AU REVIOR WOOMBYE - HARRIET MASON

Runner Up - Under 18 - $150

A GARDEN BEE - LEWIS CHAMPNEY

First Prize - Under 12 - $250

THE MONSTER OF PARK STREET - OLIVE MASON

Runner Up - Under 12 - $150

HOLDING OUT FOR SPRING - KATE MAHER

First Prize - People's Choice - $250

OUR TOWN - TARA SLOCOMBE

Runner Up - People's Choice -$150

SOLEIL COUCHANT - CAMILLE DHENIN

Third Prize - People's Choice - $100

 

 
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.

 

All GRANT applications are now run through smarty grants

apply here

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

contact us
 
 

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.

 

All sponsorship applications are now run through smarty grants

apply here

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

contact us
 
 

Scholarship Purpose

The Student Scholarship program aims to assist students attending High School in the greater-Woombye area, with the aim of encouraging commitment to education, extended learning, development of expertise, and community citizenship.

The scholarship is awarded annually, and students will be considered favourably for funding in two-consecutive years of study.

Who may Apply?

The Scholarship supports students in, or progressing to, Years 11 and 12 (or TAFE equivalent).  Students may be attending any High School in Woombye and the surrounding districts of the Sunshine Coast.

Applications may be completed by a student or parent or guardian in the name of the student.

Aims of the Scholarship Program

  • To assist students who may not be able to progress in high school studies for financial reasons.

  • To encourage the importance of community citizenship as shown through leadership initiatives.

  • To encourage strong academic participation

Scholarship value & acceptable use of scholarship funds

Open to fund education for Years 11 and 12, or TAFE equivalent.  The scholarship award value for study is $1,000 per year for 2 years or for the duration of the successful recipient’s course up to a maximum of 2 years (whichever is the lesser) for each successful recipient, subject to satisfactory academic performance.

The funds must be used for authorised school or personal development activities, such as textbooks, technology resources, school camps and excursions, school-initiated activities.

 

All scHOLARSHIP applications are now run through smarty grants

apply here

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

contact us
 

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

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL YOUR PHOTOS