Select for Success

Australian Mutuals Archives staff have always been Jacks and Jills of all trades. Shot in 2003 by late tireless archives volunteer John Lee, we bring you video of a gala event celebrating the publication of Select Credit Union 1963-2003 – a history compiled by Australian Mutuals Archives champion, Richard Raxworthy.

The video is mostly a succession of speeches, but they are instructive. After the introduction, first up is Select board chair, Neil Peninton.

Neil is followed by the CEO Gary Eggert, who passed away recently. Gary’s speech is witty and eloquent and gives a solid overview of not only Select history but also important milestones in mutual history like credit union tax emption and reinstatement, deregulation, the internet, etc. etc.

John Gilbert, CEO of Cuscal, gives a rousing speech comparing banking to a rugby league match with credit unions analogous to a half back and the big banks brainless hulking prop forwards.

Inaugural Chair Ray Pemberton tells the story of Select’s beginnings as Sydney County Council Employees Credit Union and the hard work of the early volunteers feverishly doing the books for 1000 new members in the first three months, by hand, on top of their day jobs. Neil Peninton and Ray Pemberton are shown jointly cutting the cake while guests enjoy a glass and reminisce.  The video production is signed off by another tireless worker for mutual history, Tom Kelly.

Select Credit Union sailed on for another 13 years until it merged with Encompass Credit Union, and then with SCU (Sydney Credit Union) in 2019 to form Australian Mutual Bank.