Major support: Community Bank Customer Relationship Manager Hannah Tuxworth and vice chair of the board Karen Palmer with Tongala junior cricketers Ryan and Ben Smith, along with secretary/treasurer of the club Leonie Smith. The club received $12,250 in support from the Community Bank’s grant scheme.
Seven Tongala and Mathoura sports organisations were the recipients of their Community Bank’s grants scheme last week, at what was the first of three planned funding presentations this year.
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The Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura returned $36,680 to the organisations, with five applicants from Mathoura and two from Tongala receiving their “giant’’ cheques at the Tongala Football Netball Club.
Tongala and Mathoura Community Bank chair John Bentley said it was the first time the bank had conducted a “presentation night’’.
“Usually we have just gone to the club and presented the cheque to the organisation,” he said.
“This is the first of three presentations this year.“
Mr Bentley said applications for the next round of grants could be made up until July 26 and funds would be distributed on August 23 .
He explained the Community Bank model meant half of the profits from the bank were redistributed into the community.
Three Tongala and Mathoura Community Bank board members were at the presentation, along with the staff of the Tongala branch.
Mr Bentley was accompanied by vice chair Karen Palmer and Greg Rossborough.
He explained there was no ceiling to applications and in this case the funding support ranged from $880 to $12,250.
Mathoura Bowling Club received $5000 towards hosting its major tournament in May, while Mathoura Football Netball Club (which was in danger of folding not so long ago) received a $10,000 injection of funds.
Mathoura Speed Sheer, an annual event held on the Melbourne Cup weekend, accepted a cheque for $6000, while Mathoura Gun Club will use its $8500 to cater for 20 new members by installing a new "trap’’ on its range.
Mathoura Golf Club accepted an $880 cheque, with club president Garry Hulm saying this amount of money was invaluable to a little club like his.
Tongala Football Netball Club received $5000 and Tongala Cricket Club $12,250.
Mr Bentley explained the club support came with a loose set of conditions, a referral program to the bank contributing to the final figure returned to the clubs.
“We ask clubs to provide loan referrals and have those people go into the branch or agency. They don’t have to be successful and if the bank receives one new customer from every 10 referrals it is a win-win,” Mr Bentley said.
Tongala’s Mangan St branch has been operational for 22 years and Mathoura’s for 16 years.
Darren Maloney, president of Tongala Football Netball Club, football manager Paul “Pip’’ Cox and secretary Sheree Marsh were all on hand to accept the cheque from Tongala branch manager Kevin Livingston and Mr Bentley.
Kicking goals: Tongala Football Netball Club Football Manager Paul “Pip’’ Cox and secretary Sheree Marsh with Community Bank manager Kevin Livingston and board chair John Bentley. The football-netball club received $5000 in support.
The club used the Community Bank contribution to stage its annual fun run last weekend, from which profits would be used to pay for netball umpires and associated costs during the year.
Tongala has also completed renovations to its clubrooms, allowing for a more comfortable viewing area in front of the club’s headquarters.
Tongala Cricket Club secretary-treasurer Leonie Smith was flanked by her sons, Ben and Ryan, to accept the cheque on behalf of the Tongala Recreation Reserve co-tennant.
She said the funds were being directed to support “a lot of new families’’ involved in the club’s under-12s team.
“Several of them didn’t have any gear, so we bought a club kit. In previous years the kids who played had been part of cricketing families and had their own gear.
“We have also been able to use the money to sponsor our senior awards this year,” she said.
Mathoura Gun Club president Jack Carroll said his club was “in a bit of trouble’’ before the funding support.
Also involved in the presentation were Tongala and Mathoura Community Bank staff, Customer Relationship Manager Hannah Tuxworth, Kate Nunn and Kerry Cox.
Giving back: Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura board members, John Bentley (chair), Karen Palmer (vice chair) and Greg Rossborough with branch manager Kevin Livingston and staff Hannah Tuxworth, Kate Nunn and Kerry Cox.
