It’s a community success story like no other.
It was the late 1990s and the big banks had all shut up shop on Lang Lang’s main street and the community was left without a bank to service the community.
That was until the town rallied together to raise $750,000 to change that.
A quarter of a century later, Lang Lang’s Bendigo Bank branch celebrated 25 years of service on Friday 27 October, surrounded by staff, customers and the community members that made it all possible.
Bendigo Bank Lang Lang branch manager Cheryl Clasby said she was proud to be part of a passionate, tight-knit community.
“We’ve had a lot of successes here, we got Branch of the Year, so that was really exciting for us,” Ms Clasby said,
“We just love supporting the community and giving back and I think providing fantastic customer service is what makes all the difference.”
Operating as part of Bendigo Bank’s community banking model, the bank has been able to reinvest $5 million back into the community over the last 25 years through sponsorships and grants.
That includes the purchase of the Lang Lang Community Recreation Precinct, which was then donated to the community.
Our Community Company chairman Gordon Smale said the anniversary was a significant milestone for the organisation – which now owns six branches across Casey and Cardinia under the same community model.
“The visionary for a couple of farmers from Lang Lang to have enough foresight to be able to grab a hold of this model, the Bendigo Bank community bank model, to open a bank, it is significant and it was an amazing thing that we had to raise funds to get us started,” Mr Smale said.
“It’s been such a win for everybody and banking is still such an important part of rural or semi-rural towns.
“It’s a very significant quarter of a century and we’re going strong so congratulations to the community here.”
The milestone was celebrated with a celebration of sweet treats, egg and bacon rolls cooked up by the Lions Club of Kooweerup and a cake cutting ceremony.Sealing works on Glen Road, Station Street and Garden Street in Cockatoo and Innes Road, Russell Road, Gembrook Road service lane and Blackwood Lane in Gembrook are now complete.
The works were part of Cardinia Shire Council’s Better Local Roads – Sealing the Hills program.
Upgrade works included pavement construction, kerb and channel, traffic calming devices, drainage works, signage and line-marking.
Minor works are still being completed on Baker Street, Cockatoo and Redwood Rd service lane, Gembrook and are expected to be finalised before the end of 2023.
Ranges Ward Cr Jeff Springfield was pleased to see these three special charge scheme packages completed.
“Road sealing projects like these play a significant role in building a better Cardinia and help to improve the lives of residents living within the Hills and surrounding townships,” Cr Springfield said.
“Upgrading unsealed roads through our Better Local Roads program improves community safety, liveability and access to amenities and emergency services, while reducing dust, pollution and maintenance issues.”
The council thanked residents for their patience and support during construction and reminded the community to continue to drive safely.
For more information on the council’s major projects, please visit cardinia.vic.gov.au/projects
