Gallery: Palmwoods Sponsorship night delivers $150,000 for community groups
Branch staff and Directors at the June20 sponsorship evening at the Palmwoods Hotel.
Palmwoods community groups have shared in $150,000 in local funding as the town’s community bank marked 20 years of backing the people and organisations that keep the district strong.
The night brought plenty of 80’s flair to the Palmwoods Hotel, from neon and leg warmers to big hair and shoulder pads, but the real throwback was to old-fashioned community spirit.
The annual Heritage Community Bank, Palmwoods Branch Sponsorship Night was held at the Palmwoods Hotel on June 20 with 29 local groups receiving support through the Heritage Community Bank &PCB Ltd’s JV Agreement enabling the 2026 Sponsorship program.
Heritage Community Branch manager Sophia Di Ferdinando said the evening was about much more than dressing up and having fun. “Tonight is to recognise & thank you the Palmwoods Community for the support you have given our Palmwoods branch,” she said.
“Without your continuing support evenings like this would not be possible where we are able to give back to our amazing community.”
The Palmwoods branch celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, a milestone Ms Di Ferdinando said had only been possible because of ongoing local support.
“Once again, thank you all for being here, thank you for your ongoing support, & thank you for helping make Palmwoods the vibrant & welcoming community we are so proud to be part of,” she said.
Palmwoods Community Branch (PCB Ltd) Director Alan Taylor thanked the local groups for their work and acknowledged the support of Heritage HO & the PCB Ltd fellow Directors and the Palmwoods branch team.
“This probably wouldn’t be as successful without this good support from all the interested parties, which is all really great,” he said. “Thank you to all of you for all that you do for your organisations.”
PCB Ltd Director Malcolm Brown used the night to pay special tribute to people who had made a long-running contribution to the wider community, including Jeff Parks from Giving Kids Memories.
Mr Brown said Mr Parks, his family, daughters and friends had put enormous effort into collecting toys for children in western communities. He said the project gathered toys from local supporters, retailers and volunteers, before filling a bus donated in recent years by Kangaroo Bus Lines and taking the gifts to towns including Blackall and Injune.
“There was probably 400 odd people in the community that made the effort to come along,” Mr Brown said.“They had barbecues. They had the kids playing with all their toys. They had a Santa giving out all the gifts. It was such a lovely event and this was done year after year for nothing.”
Mr Brown said the effort carried Christmas spirit from the Coast to communities where gifts and large events were not always readily available.
“This is a big thank you from PCB Ltd & Heritage Community Palmwoods Branch and from the community just to say thanks, Jeff. Thanks to you and your family,” he said.
The night also recognised Jack Gaffney and Maggie Baylis from Palmwoods State School P&C. Mr Gaffney said he had been on the Palmwoods State School P&C for the past six years, helping organise fundraisers to provide more for students.
“We’ve organised many, many fundraisers over that time, just to get stuff in the school for kids, because that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
Mr Gaffney also urged locals to mark the Palmwoods Community Christmas event in their calendars for November 29.
“I really love living in Palmwoods. I think it’s a great community. It’s a small town and I love that about it and I’m just really happy to be here and be a part of the community,” he said.
Mr Brown said the sponsorship program relied on people choosing to bank locally. “This is all made possible and because of all of you, you all have and do business and conduct business with the Heritage Bank in Palmwoods and it is because of that, that we are able to distribute funds to the community,” he said.
