A 13-YEAR journey that began with a drive to help people in war torn Yugoslavia ended in Liverpool last week with the opening of the first Bendigo Bank agency in NSW.

The director of BEO-Group of companies, Vaso Despotovic, told guests at last week’s official opening, at 68 Moore Street, that he and his associates started a business that sought to give some help to their compatriots back in Europe.

“We established our business in an effort to cater to the needs of our community,” Mr. Despotovic said.

“We began with the transfer of food and medicine from Australia, then the transfer of financial aid, the opening of our travel agency, the creation of a loan division and the establishment of our community radio station.”

“I believe that we have succeeded in our mission and the crowning achievement of our success is without doubt the opening of Bendigo Bank — Liverpool Agency.”

The opening of a Bendigo bank in Liverpool is the result of a lengthy relationship between the bank and BEO-Group.

“BEO-Export has, almost from its inception, had an excellent relationship with Bendigo Bank, with whom we share a mutual approach,” Mr. Despotovic said.

“Bendigo Bank, like BEO Group, is focused on the needs of the community. This community focus has now brought us into a business relationship.

“Our vision is to see Bendigo Bank firmly established in Liverpool where it will acquire its rightful place in the community.”

The bank’s state manager for NSW and the ACT, Greg Spencer, told the gathering that the bank began in the 1858 gold-rush to meet community needs. “We now have 198 community branches in Australia, and we’re delighted that Vaso is involved in our first agency in NSW,” Mr. Spencer said.

Before the official opening, the bank was blessed by Bishop Irinej, head of the Serbian Orthodox Church for Australia and New Zealand.

Guests at the opening included the consul general of Serbia, Besarabic Aleksandar, local MPs Paul Lynch and Steven Chaytor, chamber of commerce chief Harry Hunt, representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and Rale Rasic, the first man to take Australia to soccer’s World Cup in 1974.

Mr. Rasic joined Mr. Despotovic and Mr. Spencer in cutting the symbolic ribbon.

Source: Liverpool Champion, Fairfax Community Newspapers, 20 Dec 2006 (Article by Mr. Kontos Eric, Editor)

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