Dale Webster

2 days ago | theregional.com.au | Dale Webster

Dale Webster11 minutes ago2 min readWITH the announcement that Bendigo Bank is closing two of its regional branches at Yarram and Korumburra this week, it’s time to again call bull#%*t on the claims this corporation makes about the size of its branch network. In the statement announcing the closures, the bank told media: “Bendigo Bank operates Australia’s second largest regional branch network and the third largest branch network overall”. This is simply not true.

1 week ago | theregional.com.au | Dale Webster

To the Minister for Planning, Sonya KilkennySubmitted as part of the Engage Victoria community consultation – March-April 2025Dear Ms Kilkenny,I am a freelance journalist who in the course of covering the Bendigo Showgrounds Redevelopment has come across serious non-compliance issues in relation to the consultation process required for this project and the inappropriate use of sports infrastructure funding.

1 week ago | theregional.com.au | Dale Webster

CONSULTATION for the 2019 Bendigo Showgrounds Master Plan consisted of two workshops with the organisers of the project, a phone call about the Swap Meet, discussions with Energy Breakthrough and cycling clubs about potential future use and an online survey that attracted just 21 responses. It was supposed to be an “extensive community consultation with diverse user groups so that the future vision (of the showgrounds) meets their needs”.

1 week ago | theregional.com.au | Dale Webster

Dale WebsterMar 225 min readUpdated: Apr 9THE Bendigo Showgrounds – home of the Victorian Agricultural Shows Saddle Horse Championships and many other state and national equestrian events – is to have the size of its arena cut significantly under a Victorian Government redevelopment of the site.

1 week ago | theregional.com.au | Dale Webster

WHEN does a bank cease to be a bank? Seven months ago, at a hearing of the Federal Government’s House Economics Committee in August 2024, Labor MP Tania Lawrence attempted to ask ANZ Bank chief executive Shayne Elliott about ANZ refusing to accept cash at the counter from customers. Mr Elliott cut her off before she could finish her question, attempting to shut down any reference to counter service, or as it is generally referred to in Australia and internationally, “cash service”.