Ms Wheaton, 48, started working at the Nhill branch of the bank in 1988,  when she was 19.

She managed the Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup branche from 1992 to 1993.

The three branches closed in 1993. 

Ms Wheaton then moved into relief work for Westpac across Western Victoria, travelling around the western part of the state and working at different branches. 

She did relief work from 1993 to 1995 and was based at the Horsham branch. 

Today, she works as a personal banker business at the Horsham branch.

After working at the bank for 30 years Ms Wheaton said it was her clients and colleagues who made her job worthwhile. 

“I love what I do and I love what I do with my clients. Every job has red tape and behind-the-scenes stuff, but I love working with my customers and helping them achieve their financial goals,” she said. 

“Having them recommend my services to family and friends is one of the biggest compliments you could have.” 

The Horsham Westpac branch threw a party for Ms Wheaton on Wednesday and she said people expressing their gratitude to her had “blown her away”. 

“It’s really hard to put into words how proud I am to work for this organisation and how proud I am to work for the people of this community,” she said. 

“I really enjoy the challenges that banking does bring. I primarily work with farmers.” 

Ms Wheaton said she grew up on a farm in Nhill and said that background helped when farmers came to her for their banking needs. 

Ms Wheaton said the journey she had taken with some clients had been incredible. 

“One client has been banking with me since he was a 14 year-old as a McDonald’s employee and he now runs his own business. That journey has been wonderful to see – him going from a young person to getting married, to having kids and to own his own business now,” she said. 

“In itself, that is an amazing feeling to see people go through different stages in their life.” 

Ms Wheaton said she remembered hearing about one client who said they banked “with Jodi at Westpac, not at Westpac with Jodi”. 

“I take a great deal of pride if people want to bank with me. It wouldn’t matter what bank I worked at, but the fact they want to be with me is what’s pretty important,” she said. 

Ms Wheaton said her family culture of hard work has helped her get to where she is today. 

She said she listened to people and designed packages to what the client needed.