Community bank’s chair farewelled after long service to Tongala

By Jemma Jones

Nov 20, 2024

**The Tongala and Mathoura Community Bank put $58,000 back into the community through grants given out at a particularly bittersweet annual general meeting.** Photo by Jemma Jones

It was a bittersweet night for the team at Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura, who said goodbye to a key leadership figure in their organisation.

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On Wednesday, November 13, the Community Bank Tongala and Mathoura held its annual general meeting at the Tongala RSL, where details about the past year were fleshed out, grants were given to community groups and the team members said goodbye to one of their own.

It was announced at the meeting that board chair John Bentley would be stepping down from his position.

**Outgoing chair John Bentley watched a presentation put together by his colleagues to farewell him.** Photo by Jemma Jones

Mr Bentley said that while it was a bittersweet goodbye, he would not be stepping away from the organisation completely and would continue to act as a director of the organisation.

“It’s been the long haul,” he said.

“There’s been plenty of low lights and plenty of highlights, but at the end of the day, putting money back into the community and seeing the community benefit from that has been the best part of my job.”

There were two guest speakers on the night.

One was Andrew Thompson from youth re-engagement program ‘Boys in the Bush’, who talked about the community bank’s support of the program in the region recently.

The other guest speaker was Maya Kellett, a local netballer, who Zoomed in from Melbourne to talk about her scholarship from the community bank to study at the University of Melbourne in 2024.

**Tongala Primary School principal Rob Hogan (middle) received a grant on behalf of the school with community bank director Paige Wade (left) and manager Hamish Urquhart.** Photo by Jemma Jones

The community bank also awarded $58,608.30 to community groups and organisations across Tongala and Mathoura through grants on the night.

One of the grant recipients was the Tongala Primary School, accepted by school principal Rob Hogan, who said the school would put the money towards developing a program to re-engage young girls, similar to the ‘Boys in the Bush’ program.

The school received $5000 for its Empower Girls Program.

“The bank has funded the whole thing, I think because they’ve seen the success for Boys in the Bush, they decided and said, ‘Could you do anything for the girls?’” Mr Hogan said.

**Tongala Bowls Club president Pete Kesson and treasurer Pete Tinning with community bank secretary Sharon Ebsworth and branch manager Hamish Urquhart.** Photo by Jemma Jones

The Tongala Bowls Club received two grants ahead of its centenary year in 2025.

The first was a $4500 grant renewing an annual sponsorship with the club and the second was a $5000 grant to go towards designing and building a centenary garden to commemorate 100 years of the club.

The largest grant was awarded to the Mathoura events committee, which received $20,671.50 to go towards a mobile coolroom.

Committee member Pam Fitzgerald said this grant would allow the team to put on more events for the Mathoura and surrounding community more effectively.

Other grant recipients included: Moama Anglican Grammar was awarded $2500 to buy new musical instruments; Tongala Lawn Tennis Club was awarded $1500 towards the club’s sustainability; Tongala RSL was awarded $500 towards its 2025 Anzac Day event; Tongala Girl Guides was awarded $300 to teach first aid and CPR; Tongala Senior Citizens was awarded $6071 to buy new air conditioners; Goulburn Murray Cricket was awarded $5000 for an annual season sponsorship; Mathoura Primary School was awarded $4925.80 to buy new primary school furniture; Embrace Church was awarded $2640 for its upcoming Tongala Carols by Candlelight event.