1. Riding for the Disabled Sponsorship

    Our community partnership with Riding for the Disabled in Raymond Terrace & Lower Hunter, NSW is going strong with Companion Credit Union (http://www.companion.com.au/aspx/home.aspx)  being recognised in the centre’s newsletter for our fundraising efforts.

    Our partnership with the Centre kicked off with a $5,000 Foundation Grant in late 2010 for horse related matters for their 17 horses providing therapeutic riding services to people with a range of disabilities from across the Hunter.

    They were recently able to purchase 10 specialist riding helmets with the $656 provided by Companion through our Casual for Community fundraising days and the Life Member Movie night fundraising from late last year. It is great to see these funds being put to good use in purchasing important equipment.

    Thank you to everyone who assisted in raising the funds over the Casual Days for Riding for the Disabled in Raymond Terrace & Lower Hunter. It is very much appreciated by the people who benefit from the support.

    Posted on July 29, 2011 Community Hunter Region - NSW Leave a Comment

  2. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

    Understanding investment risk is vital for the development of a successful investment plan. While every investment has potential risks, they can be managed and minimised.

    One way of minimising risk is to diversify your investments. Put simply, to diversify means not putting all your eggs in one basket! By spreading your investments across a diverse range of assets, your overall risk may be less compared to investing in a single and possibly volatile investment. Diversified investments can help you to manage risk without forgoing returns.

    There are various ways in which this can be achieved.

    One way of diversifying could be to spread your investments amongst various asset classes such as shares, property, fixed interest and cash. The low correlation to each other – meaning the performance of one class is not affected by the performance of the other – helps reduce volatility in your portfolio because these different assets respond to different market trends at different rates. Therefore, having a portfolio diversified among different assets creates more consistency and can improve overall portfolio performance.

    Another way to diversify is within the asset class, for example, if you are looking to buy some shares you could consider buying them in different companies. To eliminate even more risk, it is also important to consider the industries these companies operate in to determine if they are too closely correlated with each other. In other words if you buy shares in three different oil companies, the risk is almost the same as investing in just one of those companies, as the industry factors that affect one oil company are most likely to equally impact all companies within the oil industry. For example, if the price of oil drops, it is probable this will have a negative impact for most oil companies.

    It is not advisable to put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to your investments and the financial markets. Diversifying your investments helps you spread your risk, so that a loss on one investment may be balanced out by a gain in another.

    Understanding your tolerance to investment risk is a good first step in taking action to diversify your investments. It is recommended before making any investment decisions that you speak with a financial planner who can help determine your risk profile and see what’s right for you.

    Posted on July 23, 2011 Financial News & Updates Investing Money Expert Saving Leave a Comment

  3. Announcing the 2011 Credit Union Christmas Pageant Queen

    It is with great pleasure that we announce that our Pageant Princess, Amy Fenna, has been selected to be the Pageant Queen of the Credit Union Christmas Pageant.

    The Credit Union Christmas Pageant is not only an icon to all South Australians – it is also an important sponsorship commitment for Community CPS. It enables us to give something back to the community as well as associate ourselves with South Australia’s most loved event.

    The person chosen for the position of Pageant Queen must have some very special qualities as it’s an important role as spokesperson for credit unions.

    Amy and our Pageant Prince Josh are looking forward to visiting a number of regional areas throughout South Australia to help bring the Christmas spirit to schools, libraries and special needs centres.

    Both Amy and Josh have demonstrated a passion and commitment for the Pageant and the credit union movement and we congratulate them both.

    To find out more about the Pageant visit www.cupageant.com.au and we’ll see you on Pageant Day – Saturday 12 November!

    Posted on July 22, 2011 Community South Australia Leave a Comment

  4. How to get the most out of your tax return

    Tax time is here so it is time to start getting together your PAYG summaries, statements and receipts. Once you’ve gathered all your paperwork, it’s important to understand exactly what you can claim to help you make the most of your return.

    WORK-RELATED EXPENSES:

    According to the ATO, approximately 7.3 million Australians claimed an average of $2,008 in work related expenses last year, making them one of the most commonly claimed deductions.

    Things to remember when claiming work-related expenses:

    • You must have incurred the expense in the year you are claiming it.
    • The expense must be work-related and not private and if the expense has been reimbursed by your employer it can’t be claimed.
    • Receiving an allowance from your employer does not automatically entitle you to a deduction.
    • If your claims total more than $300 you need to keep written evidence.

    USE THE EDUCATION TAX OFFSET

    If you have bought computers, textbooks or stationery for your children’s schoolwork you can take advantage of the 50 per cent education tax offset.

    You qualify for the Education Tax Refund if you receive family tax benefit Part A. This financial year you can claim expenses of up to $794 for each child in primary school and up to $1,588 for each child in high school and get half your money back.

    CLAIM YOUR CHARITABLE DONATIONS

    Don’t forget your donations to charity – everything from the Queensland Flood Appeal to your sponsor child. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible but you’ll need a receipt to claim for the donation.

    UNDERSTAND YOUR OFFSETS

    There are a lot of offsets available and it’s a good idea to check whether you are eligible for one. These include the dependant spouse tax offset, the private health insurance rebate or medical expenses over $1500.

    If you can’t find receipts, but know where you spent the money, see if you can get a copy of the receipt or invoice. Statements from your financial institution showing details of purchases can be used in some cases.

    Posted on July 16, 2011 Financial News & Updates Money Expert Tax Advice Leave a Comment

  5. Ganmain Show

    We are continuing our long term sponsorship of the 103rd Ganmain Show coming up on Saturday 20 August 2011.

    For more than 10 years Wagga Mutual has proudly supported the NSW Yard Dog Championships at the Show and we are looking forward to this year’s event.

    We encourage our members to come along to the Show which features all the regular competitions and classes as well as the new Great Ganmain Pie Eating Contest, a motorcross stunt demonstration and a fantastic fireworks finale.

    We hope to see you there! For more information visit their website.

    Posted on July 15, 2011 Community Riverina Region - NSW Leave a Comment

  6. Cerebral Palsy Alliance

    In 2010, the Community CPS Foundation was proud to support the Cerebral Palsy Alliance with a grant of $20,000 to enable the continuation of their youth program ‘Get Out There’ and the ‘ACTive Kids’ program for preschool aged children with cerebral palsy.

    In 2011, the staff at Community CPS  were committed to raising much needed funds to support the local programs and to provide staff volunteers to further enhance the relationship we share. “Our involvement with the Cerebral Palsy team in the ACT is about building a partnership that supports the families touched by Cerebral Palsy,” said Chris Blight, State Manager.

    The staff and families of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance touched the hearts of the staff of Community CPS Australia in a big way. “Our branch staff have matched the $20,000 grant given by the Community CPS Foundation with a donation of their own through various fundraising methods such as chocolate drives, barbecues and donation boxes in branches as we look forward to assisting with the Summer and Winter Escape programs,” said Karen Gassner, Human Resource Consultant.

    “We have enjoyed our credit union’s relationship with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance so far and seeing how we can help make a difference by putting a smile on a child’s face,” said Chris Blight.

    Posted on July 9, 2011 Australian Capital Territory Community Leave a Comment

  7. Are you being scammed?

    Every year 1 in 20 Australians fall victim to scams and personal fraud. Scams come from many sources – they may originate from unsolicited telephone calls or emails or may be in response to an advertisement you have placed in a newspaper or online.

    When it comes to testing whether or not something is a scam the old adage “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is” certainly applies. However, whether something is a scam is not always that obvious.

    Therefore in order to protect yourself from scams, remember the following 10 ‘golden rules’:

    1. If it looks too good to be true – it probably is;
    2. Use your common sense: the offer may be a scam;
    3. ALWAYS get independent advice if an offer involves significant money, time or commitment;
    4. Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes: the only people who make money are the scammers;
    5. Do not agree to offers or deals straight away: tell the person that you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision;
    6. You can contact your local office of fair trading, ASIC or the ACCC for assistance;
    7. NEVER send money or give your debit card, credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust;
    8. Check your account and credit card Statements when you get them. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to us immediately on 13 _5 85;
    1. Do not agree to offers or deals straight away: tell the person that you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision;
    2. You can contact your local office of fair trading, ASIC or the ACCC for assistance;
    3. NEVER send money or give your debit card, credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust;
    4. Check your account and credit card Statements when you get them. If you see a transaction you cannot explain, report it to to your financial provider.

    Further information on scams and how to protect yourself, including a free email alert service, is available on the Government’s website SCAMWatch

    Sources:

    ASIC’s MoneySmart

    ACCC’s SCAMWatch

    Posted on July 9, 2011 Financial News & Updates Money Expert Security Leave a Comment

  8. Do your homework when choosing a home loan

    When it comes to choosing a home loan it pays to do your homework. There are great discounts to be had and incentives galore to move your home loan to another lender, but how do you know which one is the best deal for you?

    To obtain the best deal for you, it is important to shop around and compare interest rates, fees and the minimum loan amount required to be eligible for the offer.

    Shopping around can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the term of the loan but it is important that you are comparing ‘apples with apples’ when looking at the different features.

    Community CPS member, Elicia Williams of Pooraka SA, has recently refinanced her home loan from Commonwealth Bank and has experienced a saving of almost $90 per fortnight.

    “This saving will assist with my everyday living expenses as the cost of living continues to increase,” said Ms Williams.

    Posted on July 2, 2011 Financial News & Updates Home Loans Money Expert Leave a Comment

  9. Greening Australia Arbor Day

    Greening AustraliaIn April 2011 the Community CPS Foundation approved a Foundation Grant of $5,000 to support a new community partnership with Greening Australia. The funding supported Arbor Day, a tree planting event that was held at Gemtree Wetlands in McLaren Vale on Sunday 19 June 2011.

    Greening Australia is a national environmental not-for-profit organisation with a mission to increase quantity and quality of native habitat and to restore ecological systems. They deliver this mission through conservation planting, native vegetation managements and re-vegetation services.

    Community CPS provided 2,000 native seedlings for planting to create a sustainable environment for native flora and fauna in the Gemtree Wetlands area. 28 staff members and their families volunteered on the day to plant seedlings.

    Community CPS staff member Angelique Joy, said her children loved the experience of being in the outdoors planting, “they really enjoyed having the opportunity to use the gardening tools and getting to spend time with the staff at mum’s work,” she said.

    Angelique said the best part of the day was “the sense of community and achievement we all felt at the end of the day. I enjoyed sharing in the sense of fun and pride my children felt for the day.”

    Greening Australia is committed to protecting and restoring Australia’s unique landscapes, but also knows that to be truly effective they must work with others who can help them make a difference and we believe that we have a critical role to play in sustaining our natural environment.

    Posted on July 2, 2011 Community South Australia Leave a Comment