THE CEO of the Holiday Coast Credit Union has celebrated his 25th year as an employee of the local credit union.
Neville Parsons commenced with Hastings Credit Union - as it was then known - on March 28 1983 as the Legal Officer and worked in the converted strongroom at 6 Bransdon Street Wauchope. These premises at that time housed both the Branch and Administration.
When he commenced work, the credit union boasted branches in Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Laurieton but operated without the services of chequebooks, ATM’s, telephone banking or internet banking.
“There were no fax machines or email services but we had just recently entered the computer age to manage the day to day recording of member transactions,” Mr Parsons said.
“I gained a broad range of experience starting as Legal Officer using my background and experience as a Lawyer and then moving to Accountant.
“Although I had majored in Accounting within an Economics Degree I had no practical experience as an Accountant prior to my training at the hands of a very good mentor the then Accountant Allan Wright who had planned his retirement for about 6 months after I became the Accountant.”
Mr Parsons was appointed Assistant General Manager immediately prior to his 30th birthday and that had its challenges including being a junior in age but a senior in position.
He was appointed acting general manager in July 1987 a position he held until the board announced his permanent appointment to the general manager’s role seven months later.
Mr Parsons is well known for his passion for the credit union movement and their ability to provide financial services to enhance the financial well being of members. He has had the privilege of assisting the building of credit unions in Western Samoa over a three year period in 1993 –1995.
He was the Australian representative and Director of the World Council of Credit Unions (2003 – 2005) whose aim is to assist in the development of credit unions in countries throughout the world focusing on South America, Europe and Africa, in which capacity he has visited Ecuador, Peru and Mexico encouraging people to the benefit of saving and wise use of credit.
“I observe that the 25 years and indeed the 40 years of service of this credit union to its members and their community has laid a very solid foundation from which we have the responsibility to build further success and it is through a very solid focus on our vision, mission and values that I know that we will continue to achieve and deliver on our mutual benefit test that is everything we do must benefit our members, benefit the credit union and most importantly benefit our community,” he said.
“I am happy to have had the opportunity to continue to serve the community that has provided for me.
“I would also like to thank all staff and board both past and present as well as the members, for their role and support in the success that has been achieved over this time.”
Two of the existing staff, Brad Hinton and Jo Fletcher were employees with the credit union when Mr Parsons joined in 1983.
Born and raised in Wauchope he was the captain of Wauchope High in 1974 and graduated in Economics and Law from Sydney University. He returned to live and work in Wauchope, where he has been active as a member of the Wauchope Rotary Club for coming up 27 years.
Mr Parsons will take on the role of District Governor for this Rotary District in the 2009 – 2010 Rotary year.