Cranbrook vigneron John Austwick pursued his goal with the zeal of a visionary.
His ideal of a community bank serving the people of the Freycinet Coast has been realised with the opening of a branch of the Swansea - Bicheno Community Bank in Swansea on 19 March, 2008.
Community Bank is an innovative franchise program in which the local community owns and operates a Bendigo Bank branch (which is separately incorporated) and Bendigo Bank provides all the banking infrastructure and support.
Bendigo Bank Limited operates some 350 branches which includes more than 190 Community Bank branches.
The community branch and Bendigo Bank share all branch revenue with whatever is left over after the company pays its branch running costs remains as profit.
The program was initiated in response to a massive closure of bank branches in rural areas. Bendigo Bank has since extended the program to areas that have bank services.
Bendigo Bank is often lauded for its social responsibility because of its work with communities.
"In fact, working for the benefit of our customers and communities is our business strategy," Tasmanian Manager Mr .... said.
"It makes sense: you can't run a successful business in an unsuccessful community. If we can help them prosper we will have strengthened our markets. If we're an essential part of the community fabric then we are more likely to be supported and to build a sustainable business.
"Our approach begins with listening.
"How do local leaders see their community growing? What are their problems?
"Can Bendigo Bank help them address opportunities?  
"We have been able to build a number of successful business models built on simple methods - encourage local people to commit to buying their services through a company committed to retaining at least some of its earnings in their community.
"For example, all people buy telephony but probably from a number of different suppliers. If enough people choose to buy from a locally owned telephone company then the dynamics change. That company employs locals and retains local earnings. Competitors have to improve services or reduce prices to compete. Both ways, the community wins. Bendigo Bank wins, too, because there is more money - and therefore more available for banking - in the local community.
"In the late 1990s, few people thought local communities could influence banks. Now they are running successful branches that are contributing many hundreds of thousands of dollars into building better communities.
"If it can be done for banking, it can be done in other areas and we are developing ways to make it happen. Our efforts are not just concentrated on communities with Community Bank branches. Towns and suburbs hosting our proprietary branches also participate in our community business models.
"Our initiatives are important for communities, and for us, because they have stamped us as a unique bank, increased public awareness and support and will help strengthen the markets in which we operate - our communities."