Bank Sponsorship to Help Fund Tamarama Surf Club Upgrade

By Nico Smith on February 3, 2021 in News

Safe as a bank. Photo: Bob Bellend

Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club already stands out at the top of the cliffs overlooking the beach, but it is now even more noticeable, with a new mural in association with Australia’s first smartbank, ‘neobank’ 86 400.
The fresh paint job is part of a sponsorship deal with the smartbank to provide funding for the much-needed upgrade of the surf club building. 86 400 made an initial donation of $25,000 to the renovations project, with an extra $10 pledged for each person who signs up to the bank and makes a purchase.
The exterior of the clubhouse has been totally transformed by the colourful mural, which features a host of characters that represent Australian banknotes.
The characters include a prawn, blue swimmer crab, lobster, pineapple and a frog, symbolising Australian slang for different banknotes.
The clubhouse’s temporary new look, which took ten days to transform with 86 400’s unique brand colour palette of aqua, purple, red and blue, will only be on show for a few more weeks, but if the current run of awful weather continues you may still be able to enjoy it for a little longer.
86 400 CEO Robert Bell said he was pleased that the bank could partner with the surf club to fund the renovations.
“The iconic Tamarama clubhouse and the club’s volunteer members have provided an invaluable service to the community for more than 100 years. Now it’s our turn to give something back by helping them reach their fundraising goals,” he told The Beast.
86 400 calls itself a smartbank because it is purely designed for the smartphone. The banking app can also link to other bank accounts and anticipate upcoming bill payments (your invoice is in the mail, Robert).
Tamarama SLSC President Tim Murray said that the partnership with 86 400 has been invaluable to the renovations project.
“86 400’s support of our club has helped us get to the finish line for the renovation of the clubhouse. Tamarama SLSC has been around since 1906 and this much-needed renovation will set us up for another 100 years to ensure we can continue to serve the community through life-saving patrols, education programs and community use of the upgraded clubhouse.”
The clubhouse needs similar renovations to other recently renovated clubs in the east, such as Bondi SLSC and Bronte’s massive new function centre. Tamarama’s planned renovations will include an expansion of the female change rooms, an upgrade of the storage facilities and improvement of disabled access in a building with many steps and different floors.
Mr Murray is hopeful that the project will also encourage the community to get on board with clubhouse renovations, for which they have been fundraising for ten years.
“Every dollar raised will help us reach our fundraising goal, we hope to start the renovation later this year,” Mr Murray told The Beast.
Mr Bell agrees that the partnership goes beyond advertising the bank over summer.
“Every person who signs up to 86 400 is also helping to safeguard a Sydney landmark – and the essential services provided by its volunteers – so it can be enjoyed by locals and beachgoers for years to come,” he said.
For more information on how to get involved with the Tamarama SLSC 86 400 renovation partnership, please visit www.86400.com.au/smart10.