Among those, hot water — no longer an issue for the Rochester Bowling Club after a $2000 flood relief grant from the Rochester Community Bank.
The club’s hot service was inundated with water in October and ever since it has taken a complicated, and rather dubious, method to light the service and attain the simple pleasure of hot water.
Club president Graham Willis said the club was fortunate to have the services of some talented members, who managed to save it several thousand dollars through their mechanical expertise.
“We were going to the bank to get a brand new mower, but we were able to get the mowers fixed and saved $8000,” he said.
“The hot water was definitely an issue and after speaking to Lauren (Ross, Lockmore Financial Services executive office) we had a very quick response.”
Lockmore Financial Services provided the funds necessary to buy a new hot water unit. Lockmore is the organisation that operates the Community Banks of Rochester, Elmore and Lockington.
“We went to the plumber (Priggs Plumbing Rochester) and three days later the service was installed.
“The bank has been fantastic to us,” Mr Willis said.
Ms Ross said the Community Bank’s Flood Relief program would remain open until further notice.
“Some groups are further advanced, while some haven’t even been able to assess what they need to replace,” she said.
“All the groups are different.”
There have already been 15 grants made to the Rochester community through the flood relief program, to replace anything damaged during the floods.
The Community Bank has also assisted with funding grants to assist in staging the Great Northern Show and Rochester Christmas party.
“We have another 10 groups we are talking to at the moment,” she said.
Each year directors of the Community Bank decide on the profit-sharing model with the community, usually about 50 per cent of the profits being returned to the community.
Mr Willis said his club had been “particularly well supported’’ and the Community Bank was a very important parter of the club.
Ms Ross said she didn’t expect the Gillies Street location of the bank, or its ATM facility, to be back up and running until late May or early June.
“When the floods first happened we thought it may not take as long,” she said.
Mr Willis said Rochester was still very much a “cash economy’’ and without the ATM the club had noticed the increase in ”cash out’’ transactions over the bar at the club.
"People coming for tournaments often use the cash out facility. It is vital we have an ATM back in town,“ he said.
