Lynne Friend attended the Murrumburrah High School and completed what was then known as 6th Form. She received a scholarship and soon after attended Teachers College in Wagga Wagga.
For personal reasons Lynne left the college and then decided to join the Commonwealth Bank in May 1974. She started at the Young Branch as a Clerk. She said “the bank is very different now to when I first started. At that time there were very few female Branch Managers and females were only just beginning to be allowed to be Tellers. I moved into the Telling Area, completed hand posting of ledgers, calculated interest payments for clients investments manually, did proof work and participated in local exchanges of cheques with the other banks.”
Lynne said “the improvements with technology are never ending and the Bank is a leader. Life is never dull working for the Commonwealth Bank, you are always evolving. I worked my way up through the ranks and became the Branch Manager of Young in 1999, Branch Manager of Cootamundra in 2008 and then returned to Young as Branch Manager 2009. Whilst at Young I assisted in moving the Branch from the old premises to the new concept Branch it is today.”
In October 2010 Lynne was diagnosed with Cancer and after major surgery and Chemotherapy went back to work in October 2011 as Branch Manager in Harden. In February 2012 she was again diagnosed with cancer and after two more operations and treatment was given the all clear in May 2013 to return to work as the Branch Manager of Harden.
“All through the two and a half years I was not well and unable to work, however the Commonwealth Bank supported me. They are a fantastic employer. I have now been back at work for one year and clocked up 40 years of service with the Commonwealth Bank yesterday on Tuesday the 27th May. The past 40 years in my employment have been engaging, exciting and challenging. I want to thank my customers and fellow staff members over the past 40 years for their support and friendship and I am proud of this achievement.”
