Attached is a series of emails I've recently received
Names have been removed to protect the innocent
----------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: r******[email protected]
[mailto:r*******[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, 19 June 2009 9:59 PM
To: Bendigo OnCall Mailbox
Subject: Mr Gus Cole
To the senior management of Bendigo Bank,
Dear Sirs,
In light of the attitude and opinions expressed by Mr Gus Cole,
Community Relations Officer with Bendigo Bank, reproduced below, an
employee of yours, which equate ALL firearms owners and gun club
members with Martin Bryant and the Port Arthur massacre, an employee
of yours, I believe I am left with no alternative but to cancel ALL my
accounts with Bendigo Bank, and refuse to deal with you in future, as
I find these comment deeply offensive, and generally unacceptable.
Are the sentiments expressed by Mr Cole indicative of the attitude and
policy of Bendigo Bank? If so, I, and many other firearms users will
take our business elsewhere.
Yours sincerely,
R******* U*******.
PS. Sorry for cluttering up your system with the two earlier emails
with no content. System malfunction.
PPS Mr Cole's comments:
Today I listened to the presentation by Bendigo Bank regional manager
Gus Cole.
He mentioned any community groups that support a healthy community
can benefit from revenue generated under Bendigo Banks Community
Banking.
This benefits the soccer mums with funding towards grounds and
equipment. Another example was aged care homes with scooters and
facilities.
However gun Clubs are banned, as they are deemed unhealthy for the
community, by Bendigo Bank.
When questioned why, his response was simple. "Port Arthur". Gun
clubs are-not healthy for the community.
I questioned 'Ol' Gus if he considered archery to be unhealthy for
the community. No, archery was fine.
I asked him to give another example besides gun clubs.
Rodeo and horse racing, apparently these are unethical with cruelty
to animals. (Banned as well!)
Gus found it amusing when I asked if Pony Club fell into this
category. His two word answer of (Port Arthur) just sickened me the
way he tossed it out like it was his winning card.
I'm sure everyone out there is nodding in agreement with Gus;
indirectly acknowledging the perception gun clubs are a breeding
ground for psychopaths'. I will be emailing Gus Cole at
> > ****.**[email protected]
Maybe someone has something they would like to add.
S***** T*****, S***********
------------------------------------------------------------
--- On Tue, 23/6/09, J****** P***(Customer Help)
<J*****[email protected]>
wrote:
From: J******* P***(Customer Help) <J*******[email protected]>
Subject: Mr Gus Cole
To: r*******[email protected]
Received: Tuesday, 23 June, 2009, 8:57 AM
Dear Mr U*********
I would like to clarify Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's position on
sponsorship support for registered gun clubs.
Recently a bank representative told a public meeting the bank would
not consider such requests. This information was given in good faith,
but due to a genuine misunderstanding was not correct.
The bank believes registered clubs play an important role in
promoting the responsible and informed use of firearms in our
community. We are happy to consider requests for sponsorship support.
Yours sincerely
J***** P*** I Customer Help Centre
Bendigo Bank I PO Box 480 Bendigo VIC 3552
T:1300 *** *** I F:1300 *** ***
j*****[email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: r******[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, 25 June 2009 6:02 PM
To: J****** P***(Customer Help)
Subject: Re: Mr Gus Cole
Dear Mr P***,
Thank you for clarifying Bendigo Bank's position on sponsorship of
gun clubs.
However, that is not the issue of concern. The vilification and
invidious comparison of ALL firearms owners with Martin Bryant and the
massacre at Port Arthur by Mr Cole, YOUR
Community Relations officer IS not acceptable to myself and EVERY
other firearms owner I have spoken to or emailed on this subject.
Hence, I expect appropriate action to censure this individual to be
taken before I will consider maintaining accounts with Bendigo Bank. I
also expect and unreserved apology from Mr Cole for his remarks
Yours sincerely,
R****** U********
---------------------------------------------------------------
--- O n Tue, 7/7/09, J****** P***(Customer Help)
<J*****[email protected]> wrote:
> From: J******* P***(Customer Help) <J******[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: Mr Gus Cole
> To: r********[email protected]
> Received: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 4:57 PM
> Dear Mr U*******
I have passed your request for an apology on to Mr Cole, who advises
that the comments attributed to him were not correct and he does not
propose to apologise.
I can only reiterate Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's position on
sponsorship support for registered gun clubs - which is that the bank
believes registered clubs play an important
role in the community and is happy to consider requests for
sponsorship support.
Yours sincerely
J***** P*** I Customer Help Centre
Bendigo Bank I PO Box 480 Bendigo VIC 3552
T:1300 *** ***I F:1300 *** ***
j*******[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- On Wed, 15/7/09, R********* U********* <r******[email protected]>
wrote:
From: R******** U******** <r******[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Mr Gus Cole
To: "J***** P***(Customer Help)"
<J***** *[email protected]>
Received: Wednesday, 15 July, 2009, 7:15 PM
Dear Mr P***,
Thank you for your reply. I am now fully cognisant of the Bendigo
Bank's official policy regarding support for sporting clubs, including
shooting clubs.
However, the comments regarding Mr Coles position reek of "corporate
spin". To put it bluntly, why should I believe the utterances of
Bendigo Bank and not those of my source, which I have checked. Perhaps
you should do this too, rather than accept Mr Cole's bland assurances.
Unless I receive more convincing evidence than this, I will close ALL
of my accounts with Bendigo Bank, refuse to do business with Bendigo
Bank, and exhort all gun owners I know to do the same. When I close my
accounts, I will make a point of informing the branch manager why I am
taking this action.
Be advised, that these emails are being sent to a wide range of
firearms owners of my aquaintance.
Yours sincerely,
R****** U*********
Names have been removed to protect the innocent
----------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: r******[email protected]
[mailto:r*******[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, 19 June 2009 9:59 PM
To: Bendigo OnCall Mailbox
Subject: Mr Gus Cole
To the senior management of Bendigo Bank,
Dear Sirs,
In light of the attitude and opinions expressed by Mr Gus Cole,
Community Relations Officer with Bendigo Bank, reproduced below, an
employee of yours, which equate ALL firearms owners and gun club
members with Martin Bryant and the Port Arthur massacre, an employee
of yours, I believe I am left with no alternative but to cancel ALL my
accounts with Bendigo Bank, and refuse to deal with you in future, as
I find these comment deeply offensive, and generally unacceptable.
Are the sentiments expressed by Mr Cole indicative of the attitude and
policy of Bendigo Bank? If so, I, and many other firearms users will
take our business elsewhere.
Yours sincerely,
R******* U*******.
PS. Sorry for cluttering up your system with the two earlier emails
with no content. System malfunction.
PPS Mr Cole's comments:
Today I listened to the presentation by Bendigo Bank regional manager
Gus Cole.
He mentioned any community groups that support a healthy community
can benefit from revenue generated under Bendigo Banks Community
Banking.
This benefits the soccer mums with funding towards grounds and
equipment. Another example was aged care homes with scooters and
facilities.
However gun Clubs are banned, as they are deemed unhealthy for the
community, by Bendigo Bank.
When questioned why, his response was simple. "Port Arthur". Gun
clubs are-not healthy for the community.
I questioned 'Ol' Gus if he considered archery to be unhealthy for
the community. No, archery was fine.
I asked him to give another example besides gun clubs.
Rodeo and horse racing, apparently these are unethical with cruelty
to animals. (Banned as well!)
Gus found it amusing when I asked if Pony Club fell into this
category. His two word answer of (Port Arthur) just sickened me the
way he tossed it out like it was his winning card.
I'm sure everyone out there is nodding in agreement with Gus;
indirectly acknowledging the perception gun clubs are a breeding
ground for psychopaths'. I will be emailing Gus Cole at
> > ****.**[email protected]
Maybe someone has something they would like to add.
S***** T*****, S***********
------------------------------------------------------------
--- On Tue, 23/6/09, J****** P***(Customer Help)
<J*****[email protected]>
wrote:
From: J******* P***(Customer Help) <J*******[email protected]>
Subject: Mr Gus Cole
To: r*******[email protected]
Received: Tuesday, 23 June, 2009, 8:57 AM
Dear Mr U*********
I would like to clarify Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's position on
sponsorship support for registered gun clubs.
Recently a bank representative told a public meeting the bank would
not consider such requests. This information was given in good faith,
but due to a genuine misunderstanding was not correct.
The bank believes registered clubs play an important role in
promoting the responsible and informed use of firearms in our
community. We are happy to consider requests for sponsorship support.
Yours sincerely
J***** P*** I Customer Help Centre
Bendigo Bank I PO Box 480 Bendigo VIC 3552
T:1300 *** *** I F:1300 *** ***
j*****[email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: r******[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, 25 June 2009 6:02 PM
To: J****** P***(Customer Help)
Subject: Re: Mr Gus Cole
Dear Mr P***,
Thank you for clarifying Bendigo Bank's position on sponsorship of
gun clubs.
However, that is not the issue of concern. The vilification and
invidious comparison of ALL firearms owners with Martin Bryant and the
massacre at Port Arthur by Mr Cole, YOUR
Community Relations officer IS not acceptable to myself and EVERY
other firearms owner I have spoken to or emailed on this subject.
Hence, I expect appropriate action to censure this individual to be
taken before I will consider maintaining accounts with Bendigo Bank. I
also expect and unreserved apology from Mr Cole for his remarks
Yours sincerely,
R****** U********
---------------------------------------------------------------
--- O n Tue, 7/7/09, J****** P***(Customer Help)
<J*****[email protected]> wrote:
> From: J******* P***(Customer Help) <J******[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: Mr Gus Cole
> To: r********[email protected]
> Received: Tuesday, 7 July, 2009, 4:57 PM
> Dear Mr U*******
I have passed your request for an apology on to Mr Cole, who advises
that the comments attributed to him were not correct and he does not
propose to apologise.
I can only reiterate Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's position on
sponsorship support for registered gun clubs - which is that the bank
believes registered clubs play an important
role in the community and is happy to consider requests for
sponsorship support.
Yours sincerely
J***** P*** I Customer Help Centre
Bendigo Bank I PO Box 480 Bendigo VIC 3552
T:1300 *** ***I F:1300 *** ***
j*******[email protected]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- On Wed, 15/7/09, R********* U********* <r******[email protected]>
wrote:
From: R******** U******** <r******[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Mr Gus Cole
To: "J***** P***(Customer Help)"
<J***** *[email protected]>
Received: Wednesday, 15 July, 2009, 7:15 PM
Dear Mr P***,
Thank you for your reply. I am now fully cognisant of the Bendigo
Bank's official policy regarding support for sporting clubs, including
shooting clubs.
However, the comments regarding Mr Coles position reek of "corporate
spin". To put it bluntly, why should I believe the utterances of
Bendigo Bank and not those of my source, which I have checked. Perhaps
you should do this too, rather than accept Mr Cole's bland assurances.
Unless I receive more convincing evidence than this, I will close ALL
of my accounts with Bendigo Bank, refuse to do business with Bendigo
Bank, and exhort all gun owners I know to do the same. When I close my
accounts, I will make a point of informing the branch manager why I am
taking this action.
Be advised, that these emails are being sent to a wide range of
firearms owners of my aquaintance.
Yours sincerely,
R****** U*********
