A Big Day in Trangie

On September 7, 1996, NSW Premier Bob Carr opened a new branch of Orana Credit Union in Trangie NSW, amid much pomp and ceremony. This digitised VHS tape of the event shows how important such banking facilities were in regional and rural Australia. As the Regional Banking Investment Alliance (RBIA) shows, it’s still a pressing concern.

Premier Carr is seen meeting officials and locals. Naturally there are speeches but there’s also a children’s choir and a parade of sheep. The branch opening was celebrated by the town like a music festival or an agricultural show.

Some viewers may recognise long time mutual personality Mark Genovese who spoke at the opening due to his role with the CreditCare project, which helped open the branch. CreditCare was a partnership between Cuscal and government to keep bank branches in regional Australia. The abandonment of the bush by the major banks is mentioned in several speech snippets.

Orana Credit Union merged with New England Credit Union in 2008 which today is known as Regional Australia Bank. The video was made by WIN TV and acquired by Australian Mutuals Archives.