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Tamworth receives over $64,000 as Regional Australia Bank’s Community Partnership Program turns 10

Announcement posted by Regional Australia Bank 17 Aug 2018

This year marks the tenth straight year we have been running our Community Partnership Program, and it just continues to go from strength to strength – with this year being the first time we’ve broken the million-dollar mark - with a grand total of $1,028402 being donated to back to our local communities.  For us, that’s the best gift of all.
 
At Gregory’s restaurant in Tamworth, Regional Australia Bank presented Tamworth community groups with a donation of $64,404.37 to be divided up amongst a number of different charities and organisations.
 
As you can imagine, the community was thrilled, and a most enjoyable evening was had by all.
 
With many beneficiaries of this donation, we simply could not list them all here, but this year’s main recipients include:
 
United in Compassion Ltd
 
United in Compassion advocate patient access to full spectrum herbal medicinal cannabis to alleviate suffering in a compassionate and dignified manner.
 
They first became involved with the Community Partnership Program two years ago.
 
The donations received so far have been used to put on 3 international symposiums, (in Sydney and Melbourne) with a panel of experts and health professionals presenting case studies from other countries, dispelling myths and taking questions from the general public. Some of the money has also been used in the funding of a voluntary Medical Advisory Panel to help educate and raise awareness.
 
This year’s donation will go towards another symposium and to continued education and awareness.
 
Lucy Haslam, founder of United in Compassion was full of praise for Regional Australia Bank, saying, “it’s fantastic to have the bank supporting us on this issue. It sends a strong message. This is about looking after the community. Something that Regional Australia Bank and United in Compassion are both passionate about.”
 
The Brain Foundation
 
The Brain Foundation is a nationally registered charity dedicated to funding world-class research Australia-wide into neurological disorders, brain diseases and injuries.
 
They have been participating in the Community Partnership Program for the last ten years.
 
The donations they have received go in large part towards paying for advertising costs and raising awareness for the annual Christmas Fair held in November. Anything left goes towards research and development.
 
Philippa Warner, the President of the Northwest Branch of The Brain foundation said, “we are extremely grateful for the ongoing support of the Regional Australia Bank every year. It allows us to run our very successful event annually which raises funding for research into brain diseases and injuries.”
 
Friends of Nioka & New England Palliative Care Serv Incorp
 
Friends of Nioka specialise in palliative care for people with a terminal illness. They focus particularly in providing relief from the symptoms and the stress associated with the disease and on improving the quality of life for both patient and family.
 
They first joined the Community Partnership Program at its inception ten years ago, having heard about it through the staff in the local branch.
 
The donations they have received over the years have been put to a wide range of uses, including decking out the Nioka ward in the hospital with beds, tables, scoop chairs, oxygen concentrators, bladder scanners and a whole range of other items. Some of the money has also been used for the further education of the staff.
 
This year’s donation will be used to purchase similar items as and when the Nioka Ward requires them.
 
In addition to celebrating the tenth birthday of our Community Partnership Program, 2018 is also a special year for Regional Australia Bank for a different reason. It’s our 50th anniversary. And what better way to celebrate it than knowing our Community Partnership Program has been able to give back over 2.5 million dollars to deserving community groups over the last few years.
 
As Joseph Coppola, Regional Australia Bank Branch Operations Manager explains, “we’re hugely proud of our ability to deliver social and environmental returns to regional communities. We’re passionate about giving back to our community and empowering customers to support local community groups they feel strongly about.”
 
The Community Partnership Program allows new bank customers to open a transaction account and at the same time pledge their support for a group or organization close to their heart. 
 
Regional Australia Bank then calculates the average annual balance of all supporters’ accounts and donates 1% of the total to the cause on the customers’ behalf – all without costing them a cent. 
 
With more and more people getting on board, the Community Partnership Program has continued to grow at over 30% per year ­– and provides invaluable donations to various local grass roots clubs and community groups.
 
“The Community Partnership Program is just one of the ways in which we assist our customers and communities,” said Kevin Dupé, Regional Australia Bank CEO. 
 
“Regional Australia Bank is proud to continue delivering the Community Support Program in 2018, enabling it to continue enhancing the quality of life and a strong sense of community for the regions it serves.”
 
“The program comes at no cost to our customers and it authenticates our promise to operate in the best interests of our customers and communities.
 
“Our customer owned structure means our customers not only benefit from fairer fees, competitive interest rates and the expertise from local specialists, they know they’re benefiting Regional Australia by helping it to prosper and thrive,” said Dupé.
 
In addition to the Community Partnership Program, Regional Australia Bank also gives 5% of its net profits back to the community through sponsorships to local clubs and community organisations, as well as contributing to regional infrastructure projects. 
 
“The Community Partnership Program represents community activism at its best and we want to thank all our loyal members. Because without your ongoing support, this invaluable donation scheme would not be able to thrive.
 
“After all, it’s the opportunity to make a difference, to build better communities and to create better places to live that drives so many of us – so it’s fitting that our customers, who are also members of our communities, lead the way in initiatives like this one,” Mr Coppola.
 
Here’s to the next 50 years.
 
A full list of Community Partnership Program Tamworth beneficiaries has been included below.
 
- Ends -
 
Contact:
Sara Crowe, C7EVEN Communications, 02 6766 4513 / 0438 197 559
Airlie Horton, C7EVEN Communications, 02 6766 4513 / 0412 037 908
 
It is requested that Regional Australia Bank is not shortened to an acronym and always referred to in full as Regional Australia Bank. 
 
Tamworth Community Partnership Beneficiaries: 
United In Compassion Limited
Brain Foundation
Friends of Nioka & New England Palliative Care Services Inc.
Friends of Marsupial Park
Tamworth Regional Landcare Association Inc
Tamworth Regional Wellness Network Inc.
CONNECT Tamworth Women's Network
Challenge Community Services
Zonta Club of Tamworth Inc.
Tamworth & District Prostate Cancer Support Group Inc.
Nundle CWA Pre-School Kindergarten
Kootingal/Moonbi Rural Fire Brigade
Nundle Go for Gold Festival Committee
Peel River Artist Blacksmiths
Tamworth Meals on Wheels Inc.
Northern Inland Football Inc
Kootingal Moonbi Swimming Club Inc.
Barnard River Wild Dog Control Association Inc.
North Companions Football Club Inc.
Scripture Union Tamworth
Tamworth Regional Horse Drawn Club Inc.
Tamworth & District Breast Cancer Support Group
Tamworth Basketball Association
Tamworth Veteran Cricket
Oxley Vale P&C Association
Tamworth Regional U3A Inc
United Hospital Auxiliaries
360 Scully Park Swimming Club Incorporated
Birrelee Multi- Functional Aboriginal Children’s Service
Gowrie Rural Fire Service
Bendemeer P&C Association Inc.
Tamworth & District Model Engineers Inc
Dungowan Parents & Citizens Association
NORTH & NORTHWEST SHOWJUMPING CLUB
Girl Guides Assoc. (NSW & ACT) Tamworth Support Group
Nundle Public School P & C Ass
Tamworth & District Highland Society Pipe Band
Tamworth & District Minor Rugby League
United Hospital Auxiliaries OF NSW INC
Currabubula Public School P&C Association Inc.
ADFAS Tamworth Region
Coledale Communal Garden Group Inc.
Tamworth & District Family History Group Inc.
West Tamworth Women’s Bowling Club
Tamworth and District Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association
Tamworth Phys Culture Club Inc.
Cornerstone Church Inc.
Loomberah War Memorial Hall S355 Committee
Dungowan Public Recreation
TAMWORTH CLAY TARGET CLUB INC.
Currabubula Bush Fire Brigade
Tamworth Peel Evening View Club
Bendemeer Art Show Committee
Tamworth Sub Junior Golf Group
Tamworth Tidy Town Committee
Central North Women’s Rugby Club
Currabubula Common Trust
DUNGOWAN JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE
CHAMPS, CRAMPS, & CHALLENGES FOR MND
TAMWORTH COMMUNICATORS
Friends of Tamworth Libraries
Tamworth Roller Derby League Inc
United Softball Club Tamworth
Tamworth Regional Council Social Club
Tamworth Rugby Football Club LTD