Celebrating the season with the RaboTruck in Moree

Allison Turner, Libby Smith, Wendy Thompson, Angela Smith and Victoria Fulton-Kennedy enjoy some post-harvest festivity.

After the recent bumper harvest there’s little excuse for festivity across the Moree region, and the RaboTruck rolling into town last week marked further cause for cheer.

An end-of-year celebration hosted by the Moree Rabobank branch at the historic Vitonga Homestead gathered the community to enjoy the wrap-up of harvest, and the beginning of the festive season.

Garah’s Jock and Mare Hunter, and family, are owners of Vitonga Homestead, and said they were thrilled to host the event at their character-filled ram shed.
 

Garah’s Jock and Mare Hunter

“We were delighted to be asked, and the reality is that what we did is nothing compared to what Rabobank has done for us,” Mare beamed.

“Rabobank has grown our business over the past 23 years, and we’ve gone ahead in leaps and bounds since we’ve been with Rabo, and we value our relationship with our manager, Nick Pearce, as well as our former managers..”

She said the bank had always been “proactive, and happy to help" in regards to their existing business, and now as they transition through to the next generation.

“Rabobank has been unbelievable during this potentially tricky period, and we’re all excited for the future businesses of our three children as they start their own farming adventures in 2025.”

“It’s a bank that recognises young farmers, and what they’ve done for us above and beyond is amazing – they don’t have to thank us for the venue, we should be thanking Rabobank.”

During the evening Rabobank NSW state manager Toby Mendl thanked guests for their support throughout the year and guest speaker Jon Welsh, principal climate analyst and economist at AgEcon, provided insights into key climate drivers, and what they may mean for local producers.

With talented vocalist Kyla-Belle setting the atmosphere, local catering dynamos Brooker Trading Co and Josephine’s Drinks keeping guests well-satisfied, and even a visit from a gift-bearing Santa, there was something for everyone at the family-friendly event.
 

Mare applauded the Moree team for organising such a well-run event, with no detail spared.

“It was such a fantastic event, and it was just so easy to deal with Felicity Taylor and the Moree branch, they’re so dynamic and everything was a breeze.”

The local team was joined by visiting staff from Armidale and Sydney for the event, as well as Rabobank’s Global Head of Rural, Marcelo Alves from the Netherlands.
 

Jock and Angus Hunter with Jon Welsh

And the close-knit culture across Rabo’s global network was not lost on the Hunters.

“As clients, we really feel like part of the Rabobank family, so to see so many of the team – local and global – here on the ground in Moree really reinforced that culture amongst staff and clients alike, it’s very unique for a bank, and something very special.”

The evening also included a number of Rabobank Online Savings customers – investors who deposit their savings with Rabobank and help support Australian farmers in the meantime.

“Many people don’t realise that Rabobank is a global cooperative, so it doesn’t have to answer to shareholders,” Jock explained. “All the savings deposits are used to support farming clients, agribusinesses and our communities.”

Without shareholder pressure, the cooperative values of the bank were enjoyed by the Moree community first-hand, with the RaboTruck event another example of Rabobank’s commitment to rural communities.

“The fact the bank has gone to the expense, and effort, to gather the community – and not just clients – purely to connect, and celebrate the season, is just so noble.”

“And it’s not just Moree – the RaboTruck travels across Australia all year, visiting rural communities and hosting these events to give back, share knowledge and provide a platform to gather, it’s a wonderful thing – and always a lot of fun,” Mare laughed.