Tuesday 26 April 2011
VOL 4. No 17
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
Bellarine Times
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The streets of Queenscliff turned into a busking paradise on Good Friday as the town played host to Kids Busking for ‘The Kids’. The event was part of a Good Friday Appeal fundraiser for the Royal Children’s Hospital. Pictured at the event were (from left) Tristian Thompson, Paul Monk and Clair Johnstone. See more photos from the day on page 11. Photo: PETER MARSHALL
BANK ON IT Barwon Heads’ residents a step closer to having their own bank, with site of the new branch announced
BY ALISON MARTIN THE BARWON Heads Community Bank branch is expected to be open by early next year with a site for the new bank confirmed and more than $1million pledged by future customers. Under the banner of the Bendigo Bank, the community bank steering committee has been investigating potential sites for the branch since last year when targets were reached and a feasibility study provided positive results. Barwon Heads Community Bank Company Chair, Heather McCarthy, said the committee had finalised lease negotiations for a branch site at 70 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads – on the corner of Colight
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Street. She said the site for the Community Bank branch was now “locked in”, with a bank to be built on the vacant block. “After perusing site options for the last few months we can now confirm that the Hitchcock Avenue site will house the Barwon Heads Community Bank branch,” McCarthy said. “We are more than happy with the outcome in terms of the position of our proposed branch, and we hope it will provide convenient access to Bendigo Bank’s quality products and services for all of our customers.” Committee member, Chris Bryan, said the feasibility study was “hugely successful” and more
than $1million had been pledged to date. He said while finalising the site had taken several months, the best option had been achieved – a custom-built building for the bank. Bryan said a sub-committee had been planning the building layout and facilities, and car parking spaces would be included on site. “The next step is sending out the prospectus, which is the official documentation for those who have made pledges, and then we have to get all the money in so we can start the building process,” he said. “We all want it to happen as soon as possible and it would be amazing to have it open by Christmas but there’s still a process to go through before building
can start.” All Barwon Heads Community Bank share pledgees will receive an invitation to attend the official prospectus launch in coming weeks and residents who have pledged support are encouraged to now become a shareholder and ultimately, a customer. “More than 270 community bank branches across Australia have returned more than $50million to support local groups and projects,” McCarthy said. “And the more people who bank with us, the more we can give back.” For more information about the Barwon Heads Community Bank branch, contact Heather McCarthy on 5254 2602.
WED 3ft+ inconsistent E 19° THU 2-3ft+ easing ENE 19° FRI 1-2ft+ small N 20° SAT 1-2ft+ small N 20°
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