Jeff Law and the Bendigo Bank

My earliest recollection of Jeff Law was when I went with my father to Jeff’s Auto Electric business in Proserpine as a child. I remember Jeff being very tall and that he spoke quickly, loudly and a lot. A few years later I recall him being the owner of a E-Type Jaguar. It was British Racing Green and I had never seen anything so flash in all my life.

As I progressed further in life and became a solicitor practising in Proserpine, Jeff and his wife, Diane, became clients of mine and people with whom I have shared a good friendship with over many years.

A couple of years ago, Jeff approached me to become involved in the establishment of a Bendigo Community Bank^® in the Whitsunday area. I immediately saw this project as being worthwhile and I became involved even though between my work and family commitments I had very little spare time. Having been involved in the establishment of the Bank for a couple of years I can attest to the time and effort that Jeff has put into this project. It is a credit to Jeff’s persistence, tenacity and a strong streak of stubbornness which does not allow him to accept “No” for an answer.

Jeff is from Toora in Victoria. Growing up in a small country town meant that he had to travel to Melbourne for specialist training to become an auto electrician. Jeff married Diane in 1966.

Having completed his five years of trade training he renovated a “smoko van” and started to travel up the east coast. They lived on the Gold Coast for a couple of years and then travelled to live and work in Mackay. Jeff then owned Proserpine Auto Electrics for 18 years and sold this business to Les and Caroline Richardson in 1985. Having constructed a number of retail shops adjacent to the auto electrical business gave Jeff and Diane an income. Along the way, a couple of other businesses were set up and on-sold. Jeff spent a term on the Whitsunday Shire Council and has been actively involved in the community in many respects but nothing on the scale of his involvement in the Bendigo Community Bank^®. This evolved from an approach made to Jeff by staff at the Bendigo Bank in Bowen where he was doing his banking.

Jeff approached a number of people and these included well known locals such as former mayor, Mario Demartini; local business icon, Shirley Newell; Tolma Camm; Mike Porter from the Canegrowers; farmers John and Margaret Penhallurick; Peter and Krys Halsey; Geoff Reudavey; Janet Keppke and Anton Yuskan. Many others have also been involved along the way – too many to mention here.

Having started the project in April, 2009, the journey ended when the Cannonvale/Proserpine Community Bank^® was opened at the Centro Shopping Centre at Cannonvale on Thursday, 7th June, 2012. For those not familiar with the concept, the Community Bank^® is one that is owned by local shareholders. It is operated as a franchise in conjunction with the Bendigo Bank. After all costs, the Bank’s profits are split 50% to the Bendigo Bank and 50% to the local Community Bank^®, of which at least 80% is distributed to local non-profit organisations. The remaining 20% of the local bank’s share is distributed by way of dividend to its shareholders.

Eventually, Jeff hopes that the Community Bank will distribute $50,000 to $100,000 a year to worthy local recipients. That is the reason why I chose to become involved in the Community Bank as I believe in the concept of returning something to the community that supports the Bank.

I would like to pay special tribute to Jeff and his efforts in what has been achieved to date. Given Jeff’s track record, I am sure that the Bank will continue to grow and become an integral part of our communities in both Proserpine and at the Beach. Jeff says that this is his way of giving back to a community that has given him so much.

I would also like to thank and congratulate all of the hardworking Bendigo Bank staff who all go beyond the normal scope of their employment and all of whom are so passionate about their Bank. Without the help and support of the Bendigo Bank staff, this project could not have succeeded to the extent that it has.  Everyone involved should be congratulated on a job well done.