More than $138,000 distributed in sponsorship and grants

A total of $138,750 in community grants and sponsorship was announced at a ceremony in Woy Woy last week.

The Ettalong Community branch of Bendigo Bank presented 21 groups with the money at Woy Woy Leagues Club on Thursday, November 15.

Twenty of the groups were local sports groups.

Branch manager Mr Peter McKeon said highlights of the year had been the donation of a truck to the farm at Brisbane Water Secondary College and sponsorship of students doing the Kokoda Track expedition as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

"We are also looking at doing some work in the domestic violence area as there are local women in domestic violence situations who cannot afford to escape the house," Mr McKeon said.

"We are exploring how to fund interest-free loans for domestic violence victims," he said.

All 21 clubs who received sponsorship from the club were present for the cheque presentation which was also attended by the Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch and deputy mayor Cr Chris Holstein.

Recipients on the night were Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Woy Woy Football Club, Umina Surf Life Saving Club, Umina United Soccer Club, Woy Woy Rugby Union, Peninsula Swans Junior AFL, Woy Woy Roosters Rugby League Football Club, Peninsula Junior Touch Association, Woy Woy Junior Rugby League Football Club, Umina Junior Rugby League Football Club, Southern Spirit Cricket Club, Woy Woy Peninsula Little Athletics, Woy Woy Wombats Water Polo Club, TKT Ocean Beach Netball Club, Woy Woy Swim Club, Peninsula Floorball, Umina Beach Netball Club, Brisbane Water Netball Club, Ettalong Eagles Netball Club, Umina Beach Mens Bowling Club.

The Umina Community Group also received support from the community bank.

Mr McKeon said the community bank had donated $50,000 in seeding capital towards the proposed redevelopment of the Umina skate park and BMX track which was matched by Central Coast Council in the form of "in-kind design hours".

SOURCE:

Transcript, 8 Nov 2018

Peter McKeon, Ettalong Branch Bendigo Community Bank

Reporter: Jackie Pearson