At long last, the Beaumaris Community Bank® is making a small profit, and as a result, we are now able to provide money to help community clubs and organizations. 

The grants for 2007 and 2008  reflect the diverse range of facilities that are available for the members of the Beaumaris community to enjoy.  The recipients of the grants are announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Bank in November each year.  (see below for details on how to apply for a 2009 grant).

Money for the provision of water tanks was a popular request.  Grants went to Olive Phillips Kindergarten and Black Rock Pre-School who wanted water tanks for their veggie gardens and for the children to enjoy water play.  Gordon Street Pre-school wished to ensure there was enough green grass for the children to play happily outside and Beaumaris Community Tennis Club wished to install water tanks for the watering of the courts.

The First Beaumaris Girl Guides wished to replace a 50 year old faulty instantaneous hot water unit in the kitchen with a new, modern  version.  The Victorian State Emergency Service,  Moorabbin Unit received funds to purchase and install a 250 litre flammable liquids safety storage cabinet while Bayside Quilters Inc. was given money to buy fabric and wadding for the making of quilts to be sold or raffled to make funds for SECASA (victims of sexual assault).  Black Rock Yacht Club was able to purchase four VHF radios to maintain contact between the course coordinator, people on the water, beach marshalls and the control tower and we assisted Beaumaris Theatre Company update their sound equipment and install industrial shelving for props and set-dressing.

The Community Bank was a contributor to larger, on-going  projects where a number of sponsors are involved.  This included such things as the establishment of a kitchen garden program at the Beaumaris Primary school where children grow, harvest, prepare and eat their own produce enriching their knowledge, skills and values of the environment and the food we eat.   We made a contribution to the Beaumaris Sea Scouts towards the realignment and refurbishment of their toilet facilities and to the Beaumaris Bowls Club, we gave money towards the provision of two new scoreboards for the greens.  We were able to assist the Beaumaris Baptist Playgroup with funds to transform an outside space to provide a variety of outdoor play activities where children can play while their carers enjoy the company of other parents.  East Beaumaris Kindergarten received money to begin the landscaping of the play area to add decking and make it more wheel chair friendly.

Our green thumbed Friends of McDonald Reserve and Friends of Watkins Bay were moderate in their requests but nevertheless received money to cover the cost of designing, printing, and publishing information leaflets and to replenish gardening tools, gloves, kneepads etc for work in keeping weeds at bay and replanting with Australian natives in their areas.  They continue to care for our beautiful area.  The Association of Independent Retirees is looking for new members and needed money to defray the cost of advertising to increase community awareness of the organization which meets monthly in Black Rock.  The Beaumaris Football Club received start up costs in order to form a choir amongst the parents of the junior members.

Beaumaris Community Bank continues to sponsor  the Black Rock Sports Auxiliary's annual  fund raising day for Sandringham District Memorial Hospital, the Beaumaris Cricket Club,  the Beaumaris Soccer Club and the Beaumaris Football Club.

We are proud that the Beaumaris Community Bank shares its profits with its community and with your support we will continue to do so for many years.  The banking service we provide at the Beaumaris Community Bank is personal and local.  We are partners with our community clubs and organizations and applaud and take pride in their achievements.

However, as with all things, there is a process involved in the distribution of funds. Clubs and organizations seeking funds should obtain a form from Rob Fenton, our friendly Manager at the Beaumaris Community Bank in the East Concourse.  Simply fill it out and return it by 30th October, 2009.  Decisions will be made in time to be announced at our Annual General Meeting in November.