So it was on Tuesday, May 23, when Tulgeen Disability Services marked its birthday milestone with a large gathering of clients, carers, board members past and present, and local council and business identities.

On that day in 1977, formal services began for the region’s people with disability. What started out two years prior as a handful of volunteers calling a meeting to see what they could do, had turned into a viable concept with some government funding beginning to arrive.

Forty years on, Tulgeen has grown into a multi-armed organisation complete with social enterprises, supported employment opportunities, client services and a creative art space, as well as ongoing integration with the NDIS.

Current CEO Jen Russell said there are still challenges as clients and their advocates create their individual plans through the NDIS, but there have already been positive opportunities and outcomes for clients and she looked forward to many more.

Mayor Kristy McBain helped mark the 40^th birthday celebration at the Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre by describing Tulgeen as “a real strength of our shire” and even a reason people moved here.

In the crowd were a number of the founding committee members as well as early staff members, including former president Betty Craze.

Ms Craze said it was common for people to move to the Bega area because of the services Tulgeen provided to adults with disability.

She and another former board member Alex Langworthy both said they enjoyed their time with Tulgeen immensely.

Inaugural secretary and now patron of Tulgeen Bob Westmacott was singled out on the day for his efforts in getting Tulgeen underway 40 years ago, as was Carole Broadhead (nee Wangemann) as the group’s first paid employee.

She told the Bega District News back in 1978 she was paid $25 a day to assist the six clients two days a week – but it cost her $18 in petrol to get in and back.

“It was just a great time – I loved it,” Ms Broadhead said.