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Community Impact Stories
Here’s a great story: we’ve proudly invested well over $2.5M into local community projects and we’re not stopping there. On top of that, we invested in a Community House for all, creating a space where everyone belongs. We partner with local organisations and the business sector to resource and grow in the community space, including funding our Community Partnerships Lead role to drive even greater impact. We love sharing the stories of how our investment helps the community thrive.


Celebrating 150 Years in Clarendon
What a day it was at the "Back to Clarendon" celebration in October. Our Community Bank was proud to have supported the 150-year milestone by funding the lunch and afternoon tea for over 140 current and former residents who came together to mark the occasion at the Clarendon Recreation Reserve. The event marked a major milestone in local history, as the Reserve has been a cornerstone of the community since 1974! From horse races and cricket matches to sporting events and ten


Outdoor classroom for young parents
We said 'YES' to supporting the Young Parents' Outdoor Classroom at Yuille Park Community College. This is a space that is already making a difference for students and their families. Through our partnership with Yuille Park Community College Young Parents Program, we've helped the school transform an under-utilised area into a vibrant, welcoming outdoor learning space. With funding from our Community Bank and the guidance of expert landscape architects, the project is givi


Lal Lal Market Shines
As we start reflecting over 2024, we're throwing back to a project we supported in October. What a fantastic day at the Lal Lal Market with over 2,000 people involved in local fun, and the Committee couldn’t have be happier with how it went! Michaela Settle MP came and showed her support There was talented musician Gary filling the air with beautiful tunes, and Rowdy and Eliesha showcased a hands-on sheep-shearing experience! Plus there was a little bit of magic with face pai


Spreading Christmas Cheer! 🎁
We’re so proud to have supported this Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat project through our recent SparkTank event! The Men’s Hygiene Packs initiative resulted in our community collecting essential food and toiletries, which were packed and distributed to those in need during the group's Big Blessing Day in December. Thanks to the generous contributions of our local community, Reverse Advent Calendar Ballarat was able to provide bags filled with items that truly make a differe


Hats packed for Japan
As school just finishes up, we're reflecting on another Buninyong Primary School project we supported this year. This project involved the purchase of hats for the students and staff on their unforgettable trip to Japan! We understand how important it is for young students to gain life, culture and language experiences, so we said 'YES' to this one. The trip involved 26 students and six adults exploring Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. The hats were designed by one of the studen


Kinder 60 years young
When the Buninyong Kindergarten celebrated 60 years, we knew we wanted to be part of the party! It was a heartwarming celebration of the kinder’s important place in our community, with the most special guest in attendance. Long time local resident and former kindergarten educator Florence Goodwin who is now 103, cut the birthday cake and delighted everyone with her energy and love for the kids. Florence said “What a privilege for Florence’s little feet to step back at kinder.


Boost for Elaine’s Only Club
At Community Bank Buninyong, we understand sporting clubs are the heart of local communities. And what better example than Elaine, where...


Serving up opportunities
Our Community Bank continues support of the Buninyong Tennis Club and the Buninyong & District Tennis Association with new uniforms and balls for the Club and updated Community Bank Buninyong signage on all the nets. We understand supporting grassroots sports is key to building strong, healthy communities. By investing in local junior tennis, we’re helping encourage healthy habits, community spirit, and skill development for the next generation. We look forward to seeing what


Clovers top of their game
We are incredibly proud to support the Ballarat Clovers. The newly formed group reached out to us earlier in the year and we were quick to say 'YES'. It’s been fantastic to see the impact of our support, from helping the team purchase brand-new jerseys that have boosted their team pride and morale, to providing Community Gold cards that enabled them to secure prizes for fundraisers and host a BBQ to connect with their supporters and the local community. The Ballarat Clovers a


Leading Community Governance
At Community Bank Buninyong, we’re incredibly proud to support the Community Governance Program run by Ballarat East Neighbourhood House! We recently joined local community groups at Morshead Park, focusing on the key question: "Where does the money come from?" It was a fantastic event with insights from local grant funders like the Ballarat Council, Ballarat Foundation and our very own Community Partnerships Lead Kelly Bevan representing Community Bank Buninyong. Participant


Local carols return
🎄✨ What a magical night at the Buninyong Mt Helen Lions Club Christmas Carols, supported by our Community Bank! After last year’s washout, it was so special to be back celebrating together. 🎶 As usual it was wonderful to see families gathered with picnic rugs and outdoor chairs, chatting and laughing while the kids played in the background. It was a perfect blend of music, community and festive spirit! A massive shout-out to our incredible volunteer Director Debbie Rybicki,


School's New Sustainability Shed
We’re incredibly proud to have helped fund the brand-new Sustainability Shed at the Scotsburn Campus of Buninyong Primary School! 🎉 This purpose-built space will be a new hub for sustainability and STEM programs, where students can explore hands-on learning in sustainability, renewable energy and environmental science 🌍💡. We heard '3D printer' mentioned and we can't wait to see the outcomes for students in this space. We understand how important it is for students to have


Hub supported for three years
🌟 We’re proud to support the Community Care Centre Ballarat, a new initiative that’s now helping those in need across the region! 💙 Our Chair Ian Corcoran and Community Partnerships Lead Kelly Bevan attended the official opening with Samantha McIntosh Ballarat doing the honours. The Centre is a central hub where local welfare organisations can access donated second-hand goods, preventing items from going to waste and distributing them directly to those who need them. 🌱💚 A


SparkTank Shares $50,000
Our highly anticipated SparkTank event took place last night at the Buninyong Town Hall, where $50,000 of community investment funding was awarded to ten local organisations . The event saw a packed audience of over 140 attendees cheer on the community groups who pitched their projects to a panel of local leaders. Over the past 14 years, our Community Investment Program has returned over $2.25 million of profit to the local community . The SparkTank initiative was designed


We're the EBT support act
What's not to love about student innovation and defining life moments ♥️! We recently partnered with the Buninyong Mt Helen Lions Club to support Buninyong Primary School's Energy Breakthrough Program 🙌. Together we’ve funded the construction of a brand-new shed that will make a huge difference to the students and staff involved in this student-led program. 🚴♀️⚙️ The new shed provides the perfect space for students to work on their pedal-powered vehicles and perfect their


Art Acquisition Prize Awarded
The Buninyong Town Hall buzzed last weekend on opening night as over 100 attendees gathered for the Buninyong Artpreneurs Gala . The...


Nallei Jerring Graduates 24
We’ve thrown our support behind the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Nallei-Jerring program for the next three years and were...


Christmas Festival Unites Community
Our Community Bank said ‘yes’ to supporting the Buninyong Christmas Festival again this year. Our Community Partnerships Lead Kelly Bevan...


Magic moments for students
Our Community Bank along with the Buninyong Mt Helen Lions Club and Soroptimist International of Ballarat Inc sent 17 local secondary...


Backing youth success
When the community chooses to support us, we support projects like the City of Ballarat Youth Awards. We know how important it is to...
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