Building with Bendigo since 1880
MON - FRI: 7:30AM TO 5:30PM
SAT: 8:00AM TO 4:00PM
SUN: 9:00AM TO 4:00PM
COMMUNITY
SUPPORTING THE BENDIGO COMMUNINITY SINCE 1880
LOCAL IMPACT
When you’ve been around for over 145 years, it’s fair to say you’re a strong part of the community. Way beyond supplying hardware and building materials, Hume & Iser is a destination for people to come to seek advice and share ideas. Many of our staff have developed friendships with many of our loyal customers. In a retail world dominated by large chains, Hume & Iser Mitre 10 showcases the enduring strength of an independent local business.
Hume & Iser generously support community organizations, non-profit groups, sporting teams, local charities, and individuals who need assistance.
BENDIGO FOODSHARE
https://bendigofoodshare.org.au/
Hume & Iser is proud to be associated with FoodShare and support their cause.
Bendigo Foodshare was officially established as an independent charity on 11th April 2013. Over the past decade, with the help of around 500 volunteers, we have distributed around 8 million kilograms of food.
The history of organised food relief in Victoria dates to the 1930s when the State Relief Committee was formed to aid Victorians in need during the Great Depression. Food relief assists people of all ages and backgrounds – men, women, children, older adults, students and families – who are experiencing food insecurity.
During the early days, the newly formed committee visited country areas to provide goods and food and support regional organisations established as local aid collection and distribution points. From town ball fundraisers, jam-making drives and thriving social auxiliary groups to local farmers scouring their orchards to donate excess fruit, country areas have always looked after their own.
PASSIONS AND PATHWAYS
https://www.passionsandpathways.org.au/
Hume & Iser is proud to be associated with Passions & Pathways and to support the valuable work they do in helping young people build confidence, explore possibilities, and connect with their future. The program gives students real exposure to the world of work through hands-on experiences with local businesses, and it plays an important role in showing children that their interests, skills, and aspirations can lead to many different pathways. That focus on encouragement, education, and community connection reflects values we are proud to support.
Passions & Pathways is an upper primary school career-related learning program that engages students in their final years of primary school in a journey of self-exploration. It is aligned to the Victorian Curriculum and the Australian Blueprint for Career Development, and it is designed to develop self-knowledge, confidence, and aspiration for future pathways. Through practical learning and authentic workplace experiences, the program helps students start connecting what they learn at school with the opportunities that exist in their local community.
By partnering schools with local businesses and industries, Passions & Pathways gives students a meaningful introduction to the working world and the many roles that support it. These experiences help young people see the value of education, build ambition, and understand the range of careers available to them across regional Victoria. Hume & Iser is proud to back a program that invests in the next generation and strengthens the connection between schools, businesses, and the wider community.timesnewsgroup.com+2
MOUNT PLESANT FOOTBALL CLUB
https://mountpleasantfnc.wixsite.com/mountpleasantfnc
Hume & Iser is proud to be associated with the Mount Pleasant Football Netball Club and to support a club that plays such an important role in its local community. More than just a football club, Mount Pleasant is a place where families, friends, players, supporters, and locals come together each week to enjoy sport, connection, and a strong sense of belonging. It reflects the same community-focused values that are so important to us, and we are proud to stand alongside an organisation that gives so much back to the people around it.
Founded in 1889, Mount Pleasant Football Netball Club has a proud history that spans well over a century. From humble beginnings, the club has grown into an important part of life in Toolleen and the surrounding district, offering a welcoming place for people to gather after a long week of work or family responsibilities and enjoy the tradition of Saturday footy and netball. Over the years, the club has remained committed to providing more than just sport — it has created a space where friendships are built, memories are made, and community ties are strengthened.
The club’s home ground at the Toolleen Recreation Reserve is about 40km from Bendigo via Axedale on the Cornella-Toolleen Road, and it continues to serve as a true community hub for players and supporters alike. Saturday sport has long been a sacred part of country life, and Mount Pleasant Football Netball Club continues that tradition with pride. Hume & Iser is pleased to support a club that represents family, connection, and community spirit, and that continues to bring people together in such a meaningful way.
MENS SHED BENDIGO
https://mensshed.org/sheds/mensheds-bendigo-inc/
Hume & Iser is proud to be long associated with Bendigo’s Men’s Shed movement and to support the important work they do within the local community. By donating discontinued lines, overstocks, damaged timbers, and panels, Hume & Iser helps ensure materials that might otherwise go to waste are transformed into meaningful and practical objects. This approach reflects a strong commitment to community, resourcefulness, and giving back in a way that creates lasting value.
Men’s Shed groups play an important role in supporting wellbeing, connection, and purpose for men across the community. They provide a space where men can come together, work with their hands, share skills, and build friendships in an environment that encourages conversation and belonging. For many men, this kind of social connection is especially important, as challenges such as isolation, loneliness, health concerns, relationship breakdown, retrenchment, retirement, or mental and physical illness can be difficult to face alone.
Good health is about more than just physical fitness. It also comes from feeling productive, contributing to the community, maintaining an active body and mind, and having a sense of purpose and connection with others. Hume & Iser is proud to support a movement that helps men stay engaged, supported, and connected while making a positive difference in Bendigo and beyond.
BENDIGO'S BIGGEST EVER BLOKES LUNCH
https://www.bendigoblokeslunch.com.au/
Hume & Iser is proud to support the BBEL and the important work it does in raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer. Since returning to Hume & Iser in 2021, our CEO David Pontell has played a leading role on the committee, helping drive an event that brings the community together each November for a cause that affects so many Australian men and their families. A significant part of our sponsorship budget goes towards supporting this event because we believe strongly in backing initiatives that create real and lasting impact.
The BBEL plays an important role in encouraging men to speak more openly about their health and, more importantly, to get tested. In a trade environment where many of our customers are men who may not often discuss personal health concerns, the event helps break down barriers and start conversations that can save lives. By supporting prostate cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection, BBEL helps ensure more men have the chance to seek care sooner and receive the support they need.
The ultimate goal is to fund the prostate nurse who cares for men living with prostate cancer, offering guidance, support, and practical help during a difficult time. This work aligns with the broader vision of a future where no man dies of prostate cancer and Australian men and their families get the support they need. BBEL’s mission to reduce the burden of prostate cancer through research, prevention, early detection, improved treatment, and world-class psychosocial care makes it a cause that Hume & Iser is proud to stand behind.
