The Rotary Club of Port Fairy awarded recently retired, Port Fairy bank manager, Julie Holcombe with a "Pride of Workmanship" award at its Dinner Meeting held 26th September 2016.
 
The Club does not award this prestigious, vocational award very often so it is was with great pride and humility that Julie accepted the award from District Governor, Stephen Lamont, who was visiting the Club that evening.
 
Rotarian, Bernie Waixel, spoke warmly of Julie's career that started in banking in 1978 with the State Savings Bank in Beechworth where she she accepted a position immediately after completing her HSC in that town, having grown up in nearby Stanley.  Julie finished her HSC on the Wednesday and started work at the bank on the following Monday!
 
In 1979 she transferred to a branch in Holmesglen and eventually to Warrnambool in 1981. After her marriage she moved back to live in Stanley taking up part-time work at the Yackandandah branch before eventually moving back to live in Port Fairy where she took up a position at the Warrnambool NAB branch. 
 
Julie returned to the Port Fairy NAB branch in 1994 after a couple of years away to have her first two children.  She eventually assumed the role of Branch Manager in Port Fairy in 2005 - a position she held until retirement in July 2016.
 
It is in the Port Fairy Branch that she got to know so many local and loyal customers and it is these people that always speak so highly about her dedication to service.  An active community volunteer, Julie abides by her personal mantra of "treating people as you would like to be treated". She confessed to be somewhat overwhelmed by the flow of good wishes received upon her retirement which reflected the very positive impact she had on her customers and assisting with their financial decisions.
 
In his closing remarks, Bernie Waixel confirmed that many members, who were present in the Rotary meeting that night, would attest to the very personal service and support that they had received from Julie over many years and confirmed why the awarding of a Pride of Workmanship award was a very popular decision in the Club.  District Governor, Stephen Lamont, presented Julie with a plaque to commemorate the awards.
 
Julie is now enjoying retirement on her farm just out of Port Fairy.