officers club incorporated the commercial banking

OFFICERS CLUB Incorporatedconnecting former employees and families of

The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limitedand its subsidiaries and affiliates

Find us at www.CBCbank.com.auPostal address: PO Box 319, St Ives NSW 2075

[email protected] Wayne Linnert 0405 692 [email protected] Fred Harvison RFD 0419 578 [email protected] Mary [email protected] Margaret Powell 0405 391 777

Dear member,The next quarterly luncheon meeting will NOT be held in September due to Covid-19 restrictions anduncertainties.However we are looking forward to a bumper Christmas get-together on the first Monday in December.

A branch close-by to Head Office is now another bank – its at 63 York Street, Sydney

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The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Limitedand its subsidiaries, affiliates and their families

NewsletterAUGUST 2021

MINUTES of CBC OFFICERS CLUB INC.Luncheon Meeting held at “Barracks on Barrack” 5-7 Barrack Street Sydney Monday 7 June 2021

President Wayne Linnert opened the meeting at 12.30pm extending a very warm welcome to 55 ladies and gentlemen includingTwenty two (22) Life Members and Three (3) Past Presidents, John Ness, Alan Pitt, and David Wyndham.

President informed members that the interstate luncheon is to be held on Monday 11 October 2021 at Southport, Gold Coast,Queensland and the venues address, time and cost incurred will be advised in due course. Otherwise, currently there has beenan excellent response from members.

President informed members a very generous anonymous donation had been received from a Club member thus enabling afellow colleague who has health or mobility problems to attend the club’s quarterly luncheons by taxi.

President presented Certificates of Life Membership of the Club to Geoff Irvine, Graham Owens, Norman Peverell, HaroldRoss and Colin Ware whom all responded in appreciation including Richard McCredie who had received same by mail.

President informed members the committee agreed to allocate certain amount from club funds towards a Bar Tab for twospecific occasions being Annual General Meeting $300.00 and Annual Christmas Luncheon $500.00.

TREASURER AND RECORDS MANAGERFinances CBC Officers Club Current Account maintains a credit balance of $6,589.94 as at 7 June 2021 which does

not include cheques received which have not been deposited to the account for the luncheon and payment ofluncheon expenses.

Term Deposit $18,000.00 renewed at 0.20% per annum maturing 2 July 2021.Term Deposit $5,204.89 renewed at 0.20% per annum maturing 20 August 2021.

Membership As at 7 June 2021 current active membership stands at 434 members.

New Members President welcomed Ed de Ridder, Harold Ross and Philip Watson to the club.

Acceptances Confirmation for to-days luncheon totalled 55.

Apologies Twelve (12) apologies were received either by e-mail post or phone accompanied by comments, interestingsnippets or donations.

Life Members In attendance at today’s meeting –Ralph Buchanan, Ian Chapman, Bill Crandell, Cliff Dunn, Les Firman,Robert Handel, Jennifer Hayne, John Hughes, Janice Humphreys, Geoff Irvine, Richard McCredie, GeoffMcIntyre AM, Graham Morgan, Kerry O’Connor, Graham Owens, Norman Peverell, Alan Pitt, Harold Ross,Ken Ryan, Frank Scurr, Gwen Smith and Colin Ware.

Birthdays Attendees were Ross Clarke, Robert Handel, Jennifer Hayne, John Hitchcock, Kevin Hollis, Geoff Irvine,Ray Knight OAM, John Ness, Leon Payne, Harold Ross and David Wyndham.

Correspondence: Outward Secretary/Public Officer advised completed and submitted Notice Appointment of Public Officerand Notice of Change of Association Address together with Annual Summary of Financial Affairs for thefinancial year ending 31 December 2020 together with fee incurred to the office of NSW Fair Trading, Registryand Accreditation, Bathurst N.S.W. 2795.

Inward Secretary received from NSW Fair Trading notification dated 14 April 2021 that The Register of Incorporationof Association Records of the Public Officer has been amended.

Long Distance Runner: Harold Ross of Leongatha Victoria who was returning from visiting family in Queensland after severalmonths.

Bereavements Club members spoke of their respective memories and recollections of deceased members.

Pat Cerny -17 March 1926 to 12 March 2021:Geoff McIntyre AMRay Knight OAM who informed members Pat was the first female branch managerof the CBC Bank.

Desmond (Des) Leggett 16 December 1943 to 15 April 2021Peter BeaumontRay Knight OAMGeoff McIntrye AMJohn Hughes

Archives Archivist Alan Pitt advised the remaining boxes of CBC memorabilia are to be stored in his family businesswarehouse at Hillsdale N.S.W.

Meeting closed at 2.35p.m.

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SNIPPETSFrank CONDONWith the 40th anniversary upon us, relate how I came to be at the forefront, of the beginning of the end,of the grand old Commercial Banking Company of Sydney Ltd.

On May 21st 1981, at 1:15pm, I was summoned from my lunchhour game of Billiards on the 11th Floor of HeadOffice, by our Chief Economist. He wanted to know how long it would take my two best Telex Operators to preparea Telex about so long! Without knowing the complexity of the Document/s I was unable to satisfactorily answerhis enquiry. So I was asked to accompany him to the Bank's Winter Boardroom on the 5th Floor, one Floor directlyabove my Cable Department. When I entered, and saw the Bank's entire Board of Directors, and Top Executiveassembled, I knew something big was afoot.

I was shown the size and complexity of the lengthy communication, to all Australian Stock Exchanges, and alsoto AAP and Reuters News Agencies, and the major TV and Radio Networks.Having merelyglimpsed the contents, I gleaned enough to know it was hot news. Our Managing Director, Vic Martin,who sometimes joined us "boys" for a Beer at The Cosmopolitan, then said to me "Having seen what you've just seen,I'm afraid we'll have to keep you here, until the last Stock Exchange in Perth closes at 5pm!". So I wandered across thehuge wood-panelled room, and selected a comfortable plush chair, from the many around the huge Boardroom Table,and placed it near a window overlooking Martin Place. Luckily I had my smokes (filthy habit, which I gave up in '82)in my shirt's top pocket, so I sat there smoking and enjoying the view, while contemplating what my future would belike under these new arrangements I'd just had a glimpse of. It's History now, that the Bank's Board had recommendedto Shareholders that they accept the generous offer of a merger with The National Bank of Australasia Ltd, and that'show the good-old middling sized CBC, joined with the middling sized NBA to form a large sized NAB. And I wasthe first of the thousands of ordinary CBC workers to know of it But it wasn't much use knowing it, if I couldn't tell ofit !!

While Iwas locked-up,unbeknowntome,ourtwo 'gun'TelexOperators,BevWilsonandJennyBotha,werealso locked-up in the Telex Room, under the guard of two of the Bank's Executives. The other 4 or 5 Telex Operators were lockedout of the Room, and had to catch up with their work after 5pm. You can imagine the weird and wonderful rumours thatwere flying about the Head Office building containing hundreds of people, when word speedily spread of my"kidnapping", and of not being seen since; and of 2 Telex Operators being locked-up under guard all afternoon.

When I finally got to The Occidental Hotel around 6pm, the crowd of Bank drinkers was much bigger than usual.The stickybeaks had joined the ranks of the regulars, knowing full well I would go there for "a drink" after work.The place was buzzing with speculation as I entered, but soon subsided as whispers of "He's here" & "Here he is",spread through the throng. The place fell silent, as I took a big long slurp of a Schooner someone passed to me. I'venever enjoyed so much rapt attention in my life. I briefly told them the basic facts I'd learned from my glances at thetext, and then the questions came at me in a flurry. I felt like Prime Ministers must feel, when trying to answer agabble of questions at a Press Conference!

R.I.P. CBC ................................................................................Frank Condon, 14th May 2021.

Ed. Refer to Merger (cbcbank.com.au) for MD Vic Martin’s letter to Frank.

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Helen CADZOW (NAB Historical Services Curator)Thank you for the informative newsletter.The Paramatta Signature Book is in the Bank’s Archives and the water pump has been donated to theMuseum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney. Kind regards

David JOBSONThanks to John N and everyone putting this Newsletter together, I really like to read about all the peoplefrom past and present days. Also looking forward to The Cricket book in due course.

Ten points! ��

John NESSAt the last luncheon I was advised by a group of attendees to take a look at the front window of 343George Street, and this is what I saw:

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Ian HOLSTONCongratulations to the Editor on a great newsletter.The photographs make for a terrific presentation.It was one of the goals of the Golden Oldies Cricket Club that we do that in the book that which I have co-ordinated. It's full of them.I was Interested to see the Key Fob, there is a story in my book about Hal Gillam which popped up in theSydney Press many years ago.Many of the photographs in the book about the Bank which have not been seen by many officers before,some I have shared with you. I gave Banksure a good plug.Last week I had a call from a member of the Dibb's family, his mother a Dibbs girl is 104 and still. drivingin Sydney.This week I am having lunch with Ray Hosking the son of Cyril Hosking a former Bank Secretary in AlecOsborne's time. Ray used to be the P/R guy for the Microsearch Foundation which the CBC Supportedvery generously

Chester KENYONI wish to express my extreme pleasure in the photographs of the Life Members receiving theirCertificates in the last Newsletter.Of particular interest were the ones of my two old cronies Bill Morelli and Richard McCredie. Iused to enjoy the company of these two gentlemen in my days at Newcastle in the 1980s.I managed to catch up with Bill in April 2001 when I was on a visit to friends in Mildura but Ihaven’t seen his cheeky sidekick Richard since I left Newcastle in 1986.We are all a bit older and look a bit older but the warmth of the friendship we shared is still asstrong as ever in my heart.My thanks to you and to the Members of your Committee for the work you do in keeping thesememories alive and I wish you success in keeping the fires burning.

Kevin NICOLGreetings from Far North Coast retirees. Congratulations on another super newsletter. All is Well in God'scountry with nothing unusual to report other than our next two NABROC luncheons; l0th June, }AZL-Ocean Shores Country Club (Brunswick Heads) in December, 2O21- Ballina Jockey Club Functions roomBoth venues are excellent and serve first class fare. Anyone visiting the area is most welcome but pleasecontact Geoff Johnston on 0419006302 or Kevin Nicol 66876132 a few days beforehand.

Wayne LINNERT - DONATED BOTTLES OF PORTEarly last year Alan Holmes contacted the Club offering his Bank port collection to be auctioned at aClub luncheon with the proceeds donated to the Club. The bottles are Fernleigh Castle CellarmastersTawny Port and Commemorative Port.Due to COVID 19 border closures and lockdowns we were unable to have the bottles sent to Sydney.Unfortunately Alan passed away 26 /07/2020 but his wife Carmel is still very keen to proceed withdonation which we graciously accept. Carmel has given the bottles to Kevin Weir to enable hand over.However, the cost and breakage of transportation is not feasible.We have previously asked for any member who was willing and able to collect bottles from Kevin andbring to Sydney to contact the Committee. However, with Covid ongoing this has been unable and tofulfill Alan’s wish Kevin has graciously offered to purchase both bottles for $150. I have accepted thisoffer on Club’s behalf and Kevin has sent funds for which we thank him.I have contacted Carmel and passed on our Clubs sincere thanks for proceeding with Alan’s wish.

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ROBERTSON branch

Frank Chapman took this photo in 1927. As it stands today – for sale

Frank was born in 1910, so I’m thinking this may have been his first branch. He made a point ofphotographing every branch he worked at.

Our Google snapshot of a few years ago shows it in a fawn exterior colour scheme with brownhighlights, but its current image shows it’s “pretty as a picture”.You can see other pictures both interior and exterior on www.CBCbank.com.au.

Noel R. SMITH MBESubject: Former Allora Qld. branch of The Commercial Banking Company of Sydney LimitedHello Wayne & Colleagues,I thought our members would be interested in the attachedphotos of the former CBC Allora branch, taken by my sisterJanet Kelly on a recent caravan trip from Brisbane with herhusband Russell.

Allora is on the Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland - 158 km south-west of Brisbane. It islocated on the New England Highway between Warwick and Toowoomba.Population 1,223 (2016 census) Postcode 4362.The gold plaque on the front of the building reads - Alan J Smith DENTAL SURGEON. He may be aformer or current tenant.What a delight it is to see the building in such great condition and the original CBC name so clearlydisplayed in the lead glass window of the building.

My thanks to the Committee for your continued great work to inform the membership base throughyour Newsletter. Best regards from the nation's capital.

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LIFE MEMBERS – Certificates recently awarded

Dorothy Zahn Gary Millar

Norm Peverell Harold Ross Graham Owens Colin Ware Geoff Irvine

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Ian Williams Max Lee

PRESIDENT’S REPORTIt is unfortunate that we have had to cancel our September luncheon due to Covid lockdown.On behalf of the Committee I wish all members good health during this time.

SAFE CUSTODYIt has come to our attention that NAB is to cancel Safe Custody services at branches by31/10/2021 with ongoing service being provided at Safe Custody Vault in basement of343 George St, Sydney. We would expect that all members currently utilizing this servicewould have already been informed and this notice is just to remind members.

DATABASEMember details are held on the Club database and updated to Club website (2 different programs)approx. every 4 years due to considerable time required to complete that activity. John Ness,during our lockdown, has completed this task. If members could please peruse the informationand if no details are listed against your name could you please provide details and we will updateour database now, and website when John has some more spare time.

Wayne Linnert

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ADELAIDE OFFICE – 66 KING WILLIAM STWe have recently been contacted by Jim’s Urbex Adelaide. Jim is a photographer and runs a blog wherehe takes photos of buildings before they are demolished to preserve history. He usually writes articles toaccompany the photos to better document the original use of the building.

Jim is very interested in talking to any member who worked at Adelaide Office and include some of theirstories about how the bank worked and what positions they held.

If you worked in Adelaide Office and you wish to contribute to Jim’s story please contact him on 0410858 930 or email [email protected]. Don’t forget to let us know too, thanks Ed.

Jim’s photos are on www.CBCbank.com.au under Adelaide branches and more onwww.instagram.com/jims_urbex/

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CBC GOLDEN OLDIES CRICKET CLUB INC.

The Club entered a team in a tournament in Darwin that was to commence on 12th July, 2021.The tournament was organised by Veterans Cricket Victoria. Due to the new outbreaks of Covid-19, the tournament has been postponed until 2022. Here's hoping.

On 7th July, 2021 a second report was issued by the Liquidators of Vintage Sports and Leisure.This involves the failed Harrogate World Cricket Festival’ Again due to Covid-19. Each of ourtourists is owed $1,250. We are only expecting a dividend of about 10% and this could be up to12 months away.We have 11 matches planned for season 2021/22 and all have been confirmed with ouropponents. Our “home" ground at Wilberforce is not available to us before Christmas due torepresentative matches being played there. We are in the process of arranging alternate venues.The good news is that Ian Holston’s book “A Golden Era of CBS/CBC Cricket 1893-2020" hasbeen completed and published. Some 280 copies of the 300 print run have been sold. It is anexceptional publication and Ian is to be soundly congratulated on quality and quantity of thefinished product. Ian has received many congratulatory comments from those that havepurchased the book.

Tony Adnum

NIGHT SAFE WALLETS

Traditional – replacement cost $100 Plastic – replacement cost $1

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL RETIRED STAFFThanks to Terry Rutledge, who has forwarded information originally sourced by Bob Wilmot, in regards tofinancial support available to retired staff members.

DIBBS AND MASSIE FOUNDATIONThe Dibbs and Massie Foundation provides financial support to employees experiencing challengingcircumstances. If you or a colleague are in need of a helping hand, please read below and submit anapplication.Who is Eligible?Any permanent NAB employee (Full time / Part Time) or any retired NAB employee or the widow, widoweror dependent child of a deceased Employee.Application GuidelinesEmployees experiencing financial difficulty or other personal situation can complete an application form toaccess assistance from the Dibbs and Massie foundation. You’ll be asked to provide full details of your currentfinancial situation. Any information you provide will be treated in line with NAB’s privacy policy.The foundation can only pay for goods and services on your behalf, they cannot provide cash. Some of thecommon reasons for grants from the Dibbs and Massie foundation include:

• Short term financial assistance for healthcare and aid equipment costs associated with the care offamily members or dependentsShort term financial assistance in response to crisisShort term financial alleviation of financial hardship applications seeking support up to $10,000 will beconsideredEmployees experiencing Domestic and Family Violence (DFV).Assisting with funeral costs for a loved one.Applications will be reviewed in line with the Foundations criteria. You must be a current or retiredofficer or the widow, widower or dependent child of a deceased officer who are in ‘necessitouscircumstances’Maximum grant size is currently $10,000

Who manages the application process and where is my information stored?All information provided by you is treated confidentially and only disclosed to people who need to know forthe purpose of assessing your application.NAB Employee Support Hub - a specialist team in NAB Assist for employees experiencing financialhardship - will help you complete the application and manage the application review process. You cancontact this team on 1300 331 972. On your first contact you will be assigned a case manager who youcan contact directly and can answer any questions you have, including about the privacy andconfidentiality of your personal information.How do I apply?For more information please contact the Employee Support Hub via email([email protected]) or Phone 1300 331 972.Application forms can be obtained from colleague connect.Send your completed application to Dibbs.Massie. [email protected] happens next?Your application will be reviewed to see if it meets the objectives and criteria of the foundation and thetrust deed under which it operates.NAB Employee Support Hub will be able to assist with completing your applicationWhat is the Dibbs and Massie Foundation?In 1907, Mr. TA Dibbs, the retiring General Manager of theCommercial Banking Company (CBC) of Sydney, donated£5,000 to establish an Officers Relief Fund. Interest from the Fund was used to help CBC officers in casesof illness, accident, misfortune or distress of any kind, particularly where officers were not eligible for reliefunder the rules of the provident fund.What does the Dibbs and Massie Foundation do today?Today, these funds have grown to enable the Dibbs & Massie Foundation, to support permanent andformer Australia based full-time and part- time employees of NAB in circumstances of financial hardship.The trustee of the foundation is Australian Executor Trustees limited.

© 2021 National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686 A115546-0121

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CBCOC MEMBERS CBC NON-MEMBERSKeith Leonard SULLIVANRaymond KING---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KEITH LEONARD SULLIVAN 30/09/1939 - 26/07/2021Wayne LINNERT It is with sadness that I advise the passing of Keith who was a Life Member of our

Club.Keith was born in New Zealand and worked for the Bank of New Zealand thencame to Australia and joined the Bank on 13/07/1958 at Gosford. He wasAccountant at Dickson and Moree then first managerial appointment at Grenfellthen followed Narrabri, Cooma, Casino and Murwillumbah where Keith retiredfrom on 13/07/1993.Keith was a very keen lawn bowler, a Level 1 Umpire, and Manager of the CasinoLawn Bowls team.

RAYMOND J KING 18/03/1936 - 06/06/2021Wayne LINNERT It is with sadness that I advise the passing of Ray who was a Life Member of our

Club.Ray began his banking life in the UK as a teenager with Midland Bank and thenjoined Standard Charter in London before transferring to Zimbabwe, Zambia andMalawi. Ray’s family emigrated to Australia in 1980.He joined the Bank on 02/11/1981 at Fernleigh Castle as a lecturer sharing his vastexperience and skills learned in Central & Southern Africa banking. Ray was laterappointed Bankcard Operations Manager and remained in that position until hisretirement on 18/0/4/1996.

As always thanks to all the contributors, Mary Lamborn for the Minutes, Rowan Raymond-Jones forcompiling the In Memoriam, Bob Handel for collating the Snippets and Wayne Linnert for distributing theprinted newsletters in addition to his duties as President.

Looking forward to seeing you at the December meeting, from

John Ness,Newsletter Editor and Webmaster

officers club incorporated the commercial banking

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