Looking back on 30 years
CUSTOMER service officer Ellen Rostad has seen a lot of changes during her time working at the St George Bank in Toowoomba, but her passion for her customers has never waned.
On November 23, Mrs Rostad celebrated her 30th year with the branch, an anniversary she described as “like that of a marriage, only different”.
After working in retail and then banking in Sydney, Mrs Rostad decided to make the move to Toowoomba in 1988.
By 1990, she found work with the Advance Bank located in the old Garden Town Shopping Centre, which later moved and was acquired by St George Bank.
“When I started with the bank we had bank cards, there were no such thing as a VISA or credit card, and we had passbooks for the transactions,” Mrs Rostad.
“It’s all changed enormously since then.
“I remember on my first day I was trying desperately to not use my old branch name when I answered the telephone.”
Mrs Rostad said one of the highlights of her career was when the team was named branch of the year in 2001.
She said she had also enjoyed spending time with the customers and staff.
“It’s always been good – I love my co-workers and I love my customers,” she said.
“They’re a part of my life and I’m a part of theirs.
“They’ve been with me as I’ve become a mother and then a grandmother and they always want to know how everyone’s doing.”.
A small celebration was held at the bank a fortnight ago to mark her achievement.
“I’ve never wanted to do anything else and I’ll be here a few more years – unless I win the Lotto,” she said.