Hume Fawkner Credit Union Cooperative formed from the merger of Hume Credit Union Co-operative and Fawkner and District Credit Co-operative in 1974. Hume Credit Union Cooperative was begun as St. Mark's Co-operative Credit Society, a church parish credit union in 1966, which expanded in what is a common story in the history of Australian mutuals.
Fawkner is a suburb of Melbourne 12 km from the central business district and it falls within the City of Hume (a local government area within Greater Melbourne). The Victorian Credit Cooperative Association (VCCA) magazine Common Bond profiled Hume Fawkner CU in April 1986. The article, which is held in our collection, describes arriving in the area … “Driving along the Hume Highway a few kilometres past the last tram tracks you come to Fawkner. The open paddocks favoured by picnickers only a few decades ago are now a closely populated and friendly suburb with a scattering of light industry and a small but flourishing credit union”.
The article features Peter Mulquiney, Chairman of Hume Fawkner CU who said, “We’re a pretty friendly sort of co-operative. Most of the directors know most of the members, at least by sight, and the members know us”. At the time of the profile the credit union had 1500 members and assets of $1.2 million and its community bond included the cities of Broadmeadow and Coburg.
The Common Bond article also features Hume Fawkner CU Secretary Marie Mitchell who had been with them for 16 years and describes the results of moving to a better office. “The move marked a turn in the viability of the cooperative”, said Marie. “After very cramped office conditions we were able to present a far more visible and professional front for our members, and it improved security. That had caused us some problems in the past”.
They were also able to install a new in-house computer system as well as air conditioning. But Marie Mitchell said, “The icing on the cake was outfitting the staff in professionally designed uniforms which the girls and the members think are great”.
In 1986, Peter Mulquiney thought “the future looks very promising”. He went on to say that, “Our society is recognised as providing a much needed support between the average person and today’s complex and often impersonal financial environment … We see the development and interests of the credit union bound inextricably to the common interests and personal needs of the people we serve … There is no doubt in our minds that the community is increasingly seeing value in that relationship and will continue to make best use of it”.
In 1990, Hume Fawkner CU became Reservoir Hume Fawkner Credit Union after merging with Reservoir Credit Co-operative. In 1997 time was called on the organisation when it transferred engagements to Plenty Credit Union. Plenty Credit Union then merged with Great Southern Bank in 2010 to continue serving the community.
