***Steph & Harper Jeffrey with Lisa King & the Bendigo Bank mascot.***

More than $850,000 has flowed back into local organisations, young people and community projects since Woombye Community Bank opened in 2009.

The milestone was celebrated during the Giving Back to Woombye event at Nambour Cinema and Events Centre on August 5, held in conjunction with a screening of the live-action movie Moana.

Bank director Steven Marshall said the money had been distributed through grants, sponsorships, scholarships and community initiatives. He said trading had been difficult during the bank’s early years, with significant community contributions beginning about 2016.

“Every time you choose to bank with Community Bank Woombye & Districts, you're helping create local impact,” Mr Marshall said.

“Profits stay local, supporting projects, organisations, and initiatives that make our region an even better place to live.” The evening put faces and stories to that investment, including scholarship recipient Sean Russell, who used his funding to buy a 3D printer and other equipment. Sean has since built a remote-controlled plane, ping-pong training turret, lamp and air purifier. His latest project, Nova, is designed to attach magnetically to old mobile phones and extend their useful life by improving battery performance.

“This grant I was awarded from Bendigo Bank allowed me to turn my ideas into reality,” he said.

Nambour SES volunteer and paramedicine student Sean Saunders was also recognised as the winner of the Ray Grace Award, which honours young community leaders. Sean has volunteered with the SES for four years and encouraged others to find their own way of contributing.

“It's a really good way to get into the community, give back and meet new people,” he said.

Environmental charity ECOllaboration outlined how bank funding had replaced an ageing water-testing kit used by volunteers to monitor Sunshine Coast creeks. Further support will fund eight family-friendly platypus surveys around Nambour, Woombye, Palmwoods and private properties next year, with about 200 people expected to take part.

Woombye Community and Business Association president Milo Frawley said the bank had also helped deliver the Woombye Festival, annual photo competition, buy-local campaign, Christmas lantern parade and a Clean Up Australia Day project that removed more than one tonne of rubbish near Woombye State School.

The festival attracted more than 2500 people to an essentially free community day.

Rangebow Festival director Wayne Parcell said the bank’s support would help employ artists and technicians and create experiences that brought people together. He recalled residents rallying behind the festival after signs were defaced with hateful graffiti during its first year.

“They weren't protecting the coreflutes. They were protecting an idea,” he said.

“We're a community that chooses kindness over division.”

Mr Marshall also encouraged residents to vote in the 2026 Woombye Community Photo Competition, which attracted 65 entries, and reminded eligible students that scholarship applications were open.

• Voting and scholarship information are available at welovewoombye.com.