Community Investment Story Bank

Here’s a great story: we’ve put +$1.38 million back into local community projects!

Yep, that’s at last count and it’s always growing. Over the last 11 years, we’ve distributed over $1.38 million to local organisations, causes and projects throughout the Buninyong district. We are extremely proud of this and the amazing stories that come about as a result of this support.

We love telling stories of the projects we’ve funded and how they’ve enriched our local area and contributed towards a thriving community. After all, that’s the aim.

Easing Covid Pain

Community Investment can take many forms and both last year and this year we’ve helped the Buninyong Community Facility with their insurance expenses. Covid restrictions have meant virtually no income through hire for over 18 months, but yet expenses for items like insurance have remained the same. The Community Facility’s application was to assist in Covid relief through our Community Investment Program, which we did. If your community group or organisation may be interested

Cemetery Goes Hi-Tech

Our Community Bank was keen to support the Buninyong Cemetery Trust with a proposal to develop an online database of cemetery plots and sites. The project will result in much easier access to cemetery records and information which will be useful for both day-to-day management as well as family and other research being conducted. The Cemetery Trust Committee will engage a third-party contractor who will undertake detailed mapping and digital-recording exercises of all the plot

Ever Wondered About Wildflowers?

Our Community Bank is proud to have been the supporting partner behind a new wildflower brochure which has been produced as part of the self-guided Woorookarung Wildflower Walk. The flyer details more than 120 indigenous flora which can be spotted along the walk and in wider Southern Ballarat. The brochures can be collected at the start of the trail which starts at the Dementia Friendly Forest and Sensory Trail on Katy Ryans Road. The collaborative project involved the Leigh

We're Up for Upstart

Our Community Bank is 100% on board again for the UpStart Challenge. We love this means the program is heavily subsided for secondary schools across the Ballarat region. The Upstart Challenge is a unique entrepreneurial challenge for teens, taking students on a journey from ideas to creation, working with industry mentors and pitching their ideas to win cash prizes. It’s a bit like Shark Tank for teens and it all start with the question “What’s your idea to positively cha

Juniors Receive Equipment

Our Community Bank this year supported the Buninyong Football Netball Club (@BFNClub) by funding the purchase of new uniforms and safety equipment for the junior teams. Club Football Manager Wayne Morgan said the new resources have also boosted morale and well-being in another season effected by Covid. "We aim to continually improve our junior programs by increasing our numbers and providing up-to-date programs and resources, including a future project of the developmen

BRI Facility Accredited

Our Community Bank proudly co-funded the upgrade of Ballarat Regional Industries (BRI @ballaratregionalindustries) food packing and handling facilities in Sebastopol. The completion timing in with the announcement the facility has just received their international food handling accreditation which is a brilliant outcome. Since the not-for-profit charitable organisation, commenced packaging a range of hot chocolate and chai products for Grounded Pleasures 2 years ago, the part

Band About Town

The Ballarat City Brass Band is now a little more mobile with our Community Bank funding the purchase of a new trailer to transport their equipment from gig to gig. The trailer ensures the band are mobile, with all their equipment safe and securely in the one place. If your community group or organisation may be interested in applying for Community Investment project funding, ask in Branch for more information, eligibility criteria and/or apply online at www.communitygrowshe

Support on the Ball

Our Community Bank continues to support the Buninyong & District Tennis Association (Buninyong & District Tennis Association).

Event in Full Focus

Our Community Bank assisted the Lal Lal Photo Group Inc with funding to enable their members to enter this year’s Ballarat International Foto Biennale. The very same event that will be presenting Linda McCartney: Retrospective as this year’s headline collection. The group applied for Community Investment funding to contribute towards entry fees, purchasing frames and mats for display and a suitable hanging system. The group stating that it’s with a great sense of pride that

The Rats are Gone

Our Community Bank was chuffed to receive a letter from Lal Lal Primary School student Benji Matthews thanking us for funding a new sports equipment shed and racking. He goes on to say, “the shed can hold a lot more now, is very neat and tidy and the rats are no longer eating all the sports equipment”. Seems like our Community Investment funding in this instance has solved a couple of problems. Impact Achievement: Erection of new shed and storage system Community Investment

Planting Out Together

This weekend a group of dedicated volunteers donned gardening gloves, barrows and shovels in the perfect Autumn weather to plant out a section of the ‘Neil McCracken Walk’ which is currently under development (Russell Street, along the Union Jack Creek). The group planted a large number of species indigenous to the area and was supported by a contingent of the McCracken family, some traveling from NSW to participate. The Buninyong & District Community Association has been

Deck the Halls

Ever wondered how the Town Hall keeps on keeping on? It’s support from groups such as our Community Bank that provide the Committee with funds for everyday operating expenses to keep the hall running as a valuable community asset. Our support allows groups to use the hall privately for functions, for community groups to meet, gather and collaborate, and for local events to be held in the space. It’s certainly the center-stone of our village…and a historical one at that. Imp

Take a Tour

Have you taken the historic building tour of Buninyong? You'll find these little blue plaques as your walk around town with bits of information sharing the historical significance of the site. This was a past project of the Buninyong and District Historical Society and the Buninyong & District Community Association in 2013 that our Community Bank funded. If your community group or organisation may be interested in applying for Community Investment project funding, ask in Br

New Learning Laptops

Our Community Bank funded the purchase of 10 new laptops at the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House located at Barkly Square. The laptops have enabled the group to connect with new community members and with a handy cart the units are easily charged and used in a variety of locations. Neighbourhood House Manager Sarah Greenwood-Smith said “with limited office space we rely on portable devices which can be utilised in other spaces at both Barkly Square and the Eureka Hall. The

Bowled Over with Support

Our Community Bank has a three-year arrangement with the Buninyong Bowling Club that has facilitated the purchase of new bowls sets and equipment for holding social events. This includes the hugely supported ‘Corporate Cup’ with 26 teams participating for 6 weeks over summer. The Club also uses our Community Investment funding to run a 4-week coaching program with the Buninyong Primary School. Experienced members and coaches teach students the fundamentals of both lawn and i

Giddy Up at Smythesdale

Our Community Bank was the major supporter of the TTT Horse Trials last weekend. Hosted by the Smythesdale Adult Riding Club, the event was held at the Woady Yalock Equestrian Centre in Smythedale and attended by Director Andrea Mason (pictured) with a category winner. We were loving the little bit of Bendigo on the horse blankets presented to winners. If your community group or organisation may be interested in applying for Community Investment project funding, ask in Branch

The Learning Continues

Our Community Bank has been a regular supporter of the Yuille Park Community College Young Parents Program for students to participate and gain nationally recognised training (VET) qualifications through the BGT RTO. As part of this training, students work to gain meaningful, real-life skills for employment. Students are currently completing a Certificate III in Business including many electives from the hospitality and retail packages. The program provides a flexible learnin

Grass Definitely Greener

Update: The Buninyong Cricket Club has now completed their new turf wicket which will be ready for play at the start of Round 1 next season. There's still a storage shed, covers and mower/roller to be purchased. Our Community Investment program supported the project last year. Impact Achievement: Development of A-Grade turf wicket Community Investment Category: Society If your community group or organisation may be interested in applying for Community Investment project fund

Who Was the Real Winner?

Hands down we think it was us! With a limited number of talented track stars on staff, we managed to score Steve Moneghetti run the Sponsors’ Challenge for us. While known for his ability to dominate over slightly longer distances, Steve graciously took on the challenge wearing the Community Bank Buninyong singlet with pride and came in 5th. Thanks so much @stevemoneghetti Our Community Bank was proud to support the local event over the Labour Day Long Weekend with a parti

Cleaning Up at Shed

Our Community Bank helped fund new filtration units at the Buninyong Men’s Shed (Australian Men's Shed Association). The extractors have been of huge benefit reducing the airborne dust particles that float around the workshop, which in turn has improved the health outcomes for members working in the space. This is particularly so for those with respiratory issues or concerns. Members who were previously reluctant to be in the workshop because of the air quality can now work

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