MORE than 70 Mundaring  community groups filled the Mundaring Arena last week to applaud their outstanding efforts.

Celebrating Community is at the heart of Mundaring’s Bendigo Community Bank which works to empower local people and groups to support and contribute to the long-term prosperity of their own local communities, in and around the Shire of Mundaring.

The arena was packed with dedicated and diverse community representatives, including Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary, Sawyers Valley Playgroup, Hills Choir, Mahogany Creek Tennis, Mt Helena and Mundaring Volunteer Bushfire Brigades, Clayton View Primary School, Perth Hills United Football Club, Swan View Cricket Club, Gidgegannup Agricultural Society and Trillion Trees.

Andrea Southam, Bendigo Bank Mundaring’s Executive Officer, said the event was all about bringing community groups together and to allow valuable networking to share experiences, achievements and ideas for the wider community.

“This is what we call our Lightning Grant Round,” Ms Southam said.

“At Bendigo, up to 80 per cent of our profits are distributed back to the local community.  At this event we’re giving back almost $492,000 to a fabulous range of hard-working community members who can now go on and make an even greater difference to their local efforts with the support of Bendigo Bank,” Andrea said.

Sharing success with local communities is a Bendigo Bank hallmark, with Shire of Mundaring President Paige McNeil, a former Director of Community Bank Mundaring, praising the work of Bendigo’s volunteer board and staff.

“Bendigo is all about banking local and supporting local,” Paige said.

“Their business approach is to put Community first which matches our Hills’ community spirit. So, if we in turn, invest in Bendigo Bank as customers, then Bendigo has more to give back to our community. It’s a win-win for all of us!”

In 2023/24 Financial Year Bendigo Bank Mundaring distributed $897,715.40 to the local community.

“Our grant programs and awards nights demonstrate and celebrate Bendigo Bank Mundaring’s unwavering community commitment, and the unique benefits it delivers at the grass roots level,” Ms Southam said.

It's been a big couple of weeks for the bank which was recently named Business of the Year at the Swan Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, and Andrea Southam named as Business Person of the Year.