“We’re thrilled to be able to support organisations like Camp Quality in the important work they do for our local community,” bank manager Kerrie Cavanagh said.

The charity supports 170 families in the region. It runs camps for children from birth to 13 with cancer, and weekend camps for the whole family, with trained doctors, nurses, and counsellors, all meals catered for, and companionship and support for parents. It also supports children while undergoing treatment in hospital, and brings puppets to schools to educate their classmates.

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“When we get donations like this,” the organisation’s Lyn Poulter, Armidale’s Citizen of the Year, said, “we just have a smile on our face from ear to ear, because it saves a lot of fund-raising.”

Commonwealth Bank employee Deb Honeysett knows first-hand the good Camp Quality does. Her son was diagnosed with cancer when he was 22 months, and spent two and a half years in treatment. Her son and his elder sister went to Camp Quality, and loved it.

“Camp Quality let my children be children, rather than be the sick child – the one that can’t go to the swimming pool because he has cancer, can't climb the gym because his mother is too scared he’ll fall, can’t be around other sick kids because a fever means hospitalisation. It gave my children their childhood back.”

Across Australia, more than 13,000 Commonwealth Bank employees donate a portion of their income to support local organisations that benefit youth well-being, access to education, and cancer research and awareness.

One thousand community organisations will receive a Centenary Grant worth $10,000 from the bank, which has donated $10 million to celebrate and recognise 100 years of employee giving.

Camp Quality’s next fundraising event will be a pirate-themed trivia night at the Armidale City Bowling Club on May 19.