April 27, 2017
Shoppers who dropped into the Wondai Newsagency on Thursday morning got an extra treat with their daily newspaper – a free sausage sizzle breakfast from some bankers.
The occasion was the launch of Bendigo Community Bank’s fifth South Burnett outlet to complement existing branches and agencies in Blackbutt, Yarraman, Nanango and Murgon.
From now on, Wondai customers will be able to conduct business with the mini-branch every Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm.
The newsagency formerly housed an outlet for another bank, but it closed late last year along with 25 of that bank’s other mini-branch agencies around south-east Queensland.
When it announced the closures, the bank said the rapid rise of online technologies, plus the widespread availability of other banking channels like ATMs and EFTPOS, meant the cash-based agency concept introduced in the 1970s had come to the end of its lifespan.
However Wondai Newsagency owner Tracy Robinson and her husband John were concerned the loss of banking facilities would have a negative impact on the town.
So they began searching for a replacement as soon as they were notified the other bank was leaving.
Tracy said Bendigo seemed a logical choice, especially after they opened an agency inside Struddy’s Sports at Murgon mid-way through last year.
But negotiations to open a Wondai agency took several months.
On Thursday, directors and staff of the South Burnett’s Bendigo Community Bank chain donned aprons to cook and serve sausages to passers-by.
Director Lionel Kerr said he was very happy to extend the community bank’s services to Wondai, and looked forward to a long and positive relationship with the town.
Yarraman branch manager Anne Woodrow said she shared the board’s feelings.
“Last year we were able to return $64,000 to the community,” Anne said.
“And over the past 11 years we’ve returned $745,000 by way of donations, grants, sponsorships and scholarships.
“Soon we hope to be able to return dividends to our shareholders, too.”
Special guests then cut a ribbon strung across the newsagency’s doorway to make the launch official.
- Related article: Agency Opens In Murgon
