Representatives from the bank visited Snug Cove on Monday to present POEM with the cheque, which covers website’s development and one year’s maintenance.

The group lobbied for the construction of a wave attenuator for nine years before the NSW Government announced in June that it would put $10million towards a safe harbour project.

A total of $15million will also be spent to extend the Snug Cove breakwater wharf.

POEM president Fritz Drenkhahn said having an internet presence helps open the group up to a wider audience.

“The website is not just for Edenites; it’s for the whole of Australia,” he said.

“When we started, we went to all of the yacht clubs within Australia, but now they can just go to the website to keep updated.

“They don’t need to rely on newsletters or phone calls to get that information, and it helps new people to find out who we are and how to come on board.

“Since the wave attenuator announcement, we’ve had a lot of people and groups joining POEM.

“We’re very grateful to Bendigo Bank for funding the development and maintenance of the website; it just makes life for a non-profit organisation so much easier.”

Pambula & District Community Bank branch manager Kim Stevenson said the POEM project was a stand-out when it came to choosing which projects to fund.

“We’re a community bank that’s here to support the Bega Valley, and we’re very passionate about what’s happening in Eden,” she said.

“The Port of Eden Marina is a huge project - $25million is going to be spent over the next three years in this community, to promote tourism and get more people to come to Eden.

“As a community bank with funding available, we’ve been able to assist POEM to set up their webpage and help them gain exposure.

“We will also be funding website maintenance in future years.”

To visit POEM’s new website, click here.