Bank warms to RSL

Mount Evelyn Community Bank Manager Leanne Vaytauer presents a cheque to Mount Evelyn RSL President Roger Boness. 111691 Picture: DONNA OATES

By REBECCA BILLS

MOUNT Evelyn RSL has been granted $3300 by the Mount Evelyn Community Bank for a new air-conditioning unit.
Last Thursday Mount Evelyn Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank manager Leanna Vaytauer handed over the cheque to Mount Evelyn RSL president Rodger Boness and said the bank’s point of difference is that its profit goes back into the community.
Mr Boness said the air-conditioning unit will be well received by hall users, especially the elderly, who have been looking at alternative meeting spaces because of how hot the space gets.
“Now that it’s summer, the sun sets in the west and beats down on the far wall of the hall,” he said.
“A lot of people that use our hall are senior members and it’s very, very appropriate and very fitting for the Bendigo Community Bank to be involved in ensuring their comfort while in the use of this community asset.
“The Mount Evelyn community relies on all of our community groups, and in this town, all of those groups work together as one.”
Mr Boness said the Mount Evelyn RSL Hall was built from money that Doctor Bill Hardy and his wife Gwen donated so the RSL and other community groups such as the Mount Evelyn Senior Citizens Club and the Country Women’s Association could have a meeting place.
Ms Vaytauer said the community bank understands that clubs like the RSL have to raise their own funds and bank members enjoy being able to support them when they can.
“The RSL are very good supporters of us and that’s how we work,” she said.
“It’s got to be a two-way street so the more support we get as a community bank from the local community, the more we can actually put into the community through grants and sponsorship.”
Talks are already in place for getting the new air-conditioning unit installed as soon as possible.