Helium balloons and popcorn will be the order of the day for the Seddon Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank this Saturday as it takes part in the Seddon Festival, a feast of music and other family-friendly activities.
Branch manager Graham Evans says the bank is a major sponsor of the festival and is keen to get behind the unifying local event.
“We’ve contributed financially towards the festival, but we’ve also provided logistical help.
“One of our team, Linda Woods, has been a key driver of the festival with her work on the committee. We’ve been happy to give her time off from her regular role at the bank to devote to the festival’s organisation — and it’s been very rewarding,” Evans says.
“The festival’s aim of bringing together the community marries wonderfully with our philosophy of community giving. We’ll have a marquee outside the branch, with team members handing out helium balloons, and the Yarraville Special Developmental School crew will be with us providing popcorn for a gold coin donation.”
The bank is always busy keeping tabs on and meeting needs within the area.
The Yarraville Glory Football Club recently received a three-year sponsorship package for its junior program, and club board director Adam Sawell couldn’t be happier.
“Our juniors now sport the bank’s name on their shirts and we’ve also received financial assistance. This has given the team a sense of stability. We see this as an important partnership because our club shares the bank’s commitment to community participation,” Sawell says. “The bank’s actions have also given impetus to many other local businesses coming on board to support us. And, in the process, our guys are learning the importance of giving back as well.”
The bank, which to date has given about $135,000 back to the community, has many irons in the fire — never more literally than its donation of a portable anvil and forge to the Waterside Metal Art Workers. This is a group dedicated to retaining blacksmithing skills, working out of a shed on the banks of the Maribyrnong below the Footscray Arts Centre. Go to watersidemetalart.org for information on an exciting blacksmiths’ festival next month.
