The Holiday Coast Credit Union celebrated 50 years of serving the community with a special celebration dinner at the Wauchope RSL Club.
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Guests included the assistant health minister and Lyne MP, Dr David Gillespie and the NSW roads minister and member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey.
Also present were past and present directors and staff and their partners along with representatives from the Hastings Co-op, which formed the credit union in 1967.
Board chairman Jeff Pattinson welcomed all the guests and expressed appreciation to the pioneers, the prior chairmen, directors, staff and members for their commitment to and support of the credit union, and building it to where it is today.
It’s a friendly, reliable banking institution, at the pinnacle of customer-owned banking.
- Dr David Gillespie MP
Dr David Gillespie MP extended a special greeting to the Holiday Coast Credit Union from the government and said lots of local homes and businesses had been built, thanks to the HCCU.
“Over 50 years, the Holiday Coast Credit Union has been one of the major financial players of this region.
“It has been a great employer, a very competitive financial institution, very secure and well able to grow with the region. It’s a friendly, reliable banking institution, at the pinnacle of customer-owned banking. It’s great to be here,” he said.
NSW Roads minister and member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said the credit union understands the rural nature of businesses – dairy and beef farmers – through relationships and respect.
“Holiday Coast staff are local people working incredibly hard through the entire district to help other local people,” said Ms Pavey.
HCCU CEO Neville Parson said that being member-owned and a financial co-operative is very important.
“Our shareholders are our owners. Initially, members pooled their savings to help the other members borrow. That’s still the basic principle.
“It’s also got a focus on supporting the community in which our members live. It’s important to celebrate 50 years and recognise prior board members and staff members,” he said.
Former Wauchope Gazette editor, Paul Speed Jones was the foundation secretary and did all the clerical work for the credit union for two years, free of charge, in his spare time.
“Credit unions are an integral part of a co-op movement which is not for profit. It allows people with means to assist those who need help.
“It filled a need which was desperately required in our community back then,” he said.
Mary Gill was working in the Hastings Co-op as a credit officer 50 years ago, when she was approached and asked to be a foundation director of the new credit union.
“I’ve been there ever since. It’s a great organisation, which does a lot of good,” she said.
Former Senior Citizen of the Year and Wauchope Chamber treasurer Jeannette Rainbow has also been a member of the credit union from the start.
“When I worked at Hastings Motors 50 years ago, the credit union came to our boss and asked him to encourage us to become members, and that’s how we joined. It was a great idea,” she said.
During dinner, video of Holiday Coast history was shown and there was a special message from the World Council of Credit Unions’ President and CEO Brian Branch. The chair of the Customer Owned Banking Association, Wendy Machin gave a special greeting and message.
A 50-year cake was cut by founding member Mary Gill, earliest starting staff member Julie Pitt, longest serving staff member Brad Hinton, CEO Neville Parsons and Chairman Jeff Pattinson.