Bendigo Bank Tsunami Appeal tops $1 million

14 January 2005 : Bendigo Bank's appeal for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster has now topped $1 million.

A surge of donations in the past two days has seen the tally increase to $1.2 million.

“The response from our customers across Australia has been fantastic,” said bank spokesman Owen Davies, “especially when one considers how much money has been raised through other major appeals.”

Mr Davies said the appeal would remain open indefinitely. “People obviously recognise that neighbouring countries will not recover from this disaster overnight, but that we must maintain our support over an extended period.”

Donations can be made at any company owned or Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank.

The appeal is being conducted by the bank's Community Enterprise Foundation, a charitable foundation able to provide taxation receipts to donors.

Proceeds will be channelled through registered overseas aid agencies including, but not limited to, Red Cross, CARE Australia and World Vision.

Bendigo Bank donated $20,000 to start the appeal.

The 3000 staff representing the bank across Australia have raised more than $30,000 in a separate appeal to help disaster relief work being undertaken in southern India by Assisi Aid Projects India. The administrator of this overseas aid agency is bank staff member Helen Sweeney.