Sunraysia Residential Services Inc. (SRS) will celebrate 50 years of empowering people with disability and supporting older members of our community to live meaningful, connected and independent lives in 2026, with the broader Sunraysia community invited to help mark the milestone.
SRS will host its 50th Birthday celebration on Thursday 22 October 2026, from 1pm to 6pm at SRS Benetook Farm. The event will bring together participants, families, staff, volunteers, board members, community partners and supporters to celebrate the organisation’s rich history, remarkable achievements and exciting future.
Guests will enjoy an afternoon of entertainment, activities and hospitality in the picturesque surroundings of Benetook Farm.
“Our 50th anniversary is more than a celebration of our history. It is a celebration of resilience, innovation and the countless individuals who have helped make SRS a trusted and valued part of our community,” SRS Chief Executive Officer Marian Luehman said.
“Fifty years is a remarkable achievement, but our story has always been about people. Every participant, family member, staff member, volunteer and supporter has played a role in shaping SRS into the organisation it is today. This celebration is our opportunity to say thank you, while looking ahead to the next 50 years and beyond.”
A community vision that began in 1976
Over five decades, SRS has grown into one of the region’s most respected disability support and aged care providers, but its beginnings were humble.
The organisation was established in 1976 by a group of local people concerned by the lack of services available for individuals with an intellectual disability.
Through an extraordinary community fundraising campaign involving service clubs and supporters from across the district, that vision became a reality.
In October 1978, Sunshine House opened its doors as the first residential care home for people with an intellectual disability in the Sunraysia region.
The opening of Sunshine House represented more than a new facility. It embodied a simple but powerful belief that every person deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive within their community.
Over the decades that followed, SRS evolved alongside changing community needs and significant government reforms across both disability and aged care sectors.
Through every stage of growth, the organisation remained guided by the aspirations of its founders, delivering individualised support built on person-centered care, quality services and genuine community inclusion.
SRS continued expanding its services throughout Sunraysia and beyond, including aged care services along the Mallee Track and respite services in Broken Hill for a period of two years.
As demand increased, the organisation adapted to meet changing needs, strengthening its reputation as a leading provider of residential support, respite services and community participation programs that create opportunities for social connection, skill development and greater independence.
Building homes and creating opportunities
A defining chapter in SRS’ history began in 2002 when Marian Luehman was appointed the organisation’s third CEO.
Driven by a vision that people with disability deserved homes equal to, or better than, contemporary housing developments, Ms Luehman set out to challenge expectations and create homes that anyone would be proud to live in.
That vision began with the opening of 4 Johns Street in 2002, a purpose-built respite facility constructed at a cost of $700,000, including a $220,000 contribution from the Victorian Government.
In 2006, SRS opened its $1.2million Transitional Independence into Collective Accommodation (TICA) complex on Fifteenth Street, with residents of Sunshine House transitioning into the new accommodation, while the sale of Sunshine House helped fund future developments.
The organisation’s commitment to accessibility and innovation continued with the opening of its purpose-built consulting suites at 877 Fifteenth Street in 2008.
Designed to create an accessible workplace that encouraged employment opportunities for people with disability, the building featured many forward-thinking design elements.
It was the first building in Mildura to incorporate polished concrete flooring and showcased features that would later become standard in accessible design, including open-flow layouts, stepless entrances, wider doorways and automatic doors.
In 2012, SRS completed the BOB Complex, the organisation’s first subdivision development. Each home was individually titled, creating opportunities for people with disability and their families to explore home ownership through the newly introduced first-home buyer system.
Four lots were offered, with one family successfully securing finance to purchase their home.
“The celebrations around this achievement were enormous and once again demonstrated that SRS has always prioritised outcomes ahead of profit, with the people we support always coming first,” Ms Luehman said.
Setting new benchmarks in specialist housing
Over the past decade, SRS has continued to raise the standard of specialist accommodation across the region.
In 2021, the organisation celebrated the opening of Carrazza, which was recognised with the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Victorian Housing Award in the Specialist Housing category.
The following year, the DAN Complex received the HIA Northern Victoria Regional Housing Award. Built to Platinum-level standards under the Liveable Housing Guidelines, the project demonstrated exceptional commitment to accessibility and inclusive design.
In 2024, SRS completed the Deakin Resort, an innovative two-storey development and the first-of-its-kind in the region. The project was awarded the HIA Northern Victoria Regional Housing Award in the Specialist Housing category.
ALDI, a two-unit development built to the Robust Specialist Disability Accommodation design category, was completed in 2025. The project won the Victorian Specialist Disability Housing Award and was also named a finalist at the Australian National Awards.
Developed in partnership with Garraway Developments, ALDI reflected SRS’ commitment to quality, accessibility and attention to detail, while continuing to challenge expectations of specialist housing.
SRS’ newest respite complex, DON, located on Fifteenth Street, is scheduled to open in September 2026. The development will incorporate advanced assistive technology designed to further promote participant independence and choice.
Properties including DAN, DON and Carrazza have been named in recognition of volunteers whose dedication and contributions have helped shape the organisation over many years.
Today, SRS maintains a continuous pipeline of future developments, ensuring that while one project is under construction, the next is already in planning to provide additional accommodation opportunities across Sunraysia.
Remarkably, apart from government support received for the 4 Johns Street development in 2002, SRS has largely self-funded its major building projects. This reflects the organisation’s unwavering commitment to reinvesting in the community and delivering outcomes aligned with the values on which SRS was founded.
Benetook Farm: the heart of community connection
A significant chapter in the SRS story began in 2015 with the development of Benetook Farm.
At a time when the organisation could have continued focusing solely on accommodation projects, SRS instead invested its energy into transforming a barren paddock into a vibrant community hub where participants could learn, create, connect and contribute.
Today, Benetook Farm has become much more than an agricultural enterprise. It provides unique programs, meaningful experiences and opportunities for participants to engage at their own pace while developing skills and building community connections.
The site continued to grow with the opening of the Art and Pottery Studio in 2021 and the Historic Café in 2022, both designed to create new opportunities for participation, creativity and community engagement.
In 2024, SRS purchased 1028 Benetook Avenue and has spent the past two years developing the site to accommodate additional programs and services.
“Benetook Farm perfectly reflects the spirit of SRS. It is a place where people can connect, learn, grow and contribute. It is fitting that we celebrate our 50th anniversary in a location that represents so much of who we are today,” Ms Luehman said.
Supporting communities through innovation
Innovation has remained a hallmark of SRS throughout its history.
In 2021, the organisation launched Unlimited, a technology-based day program that provides NDIS participants with unique opportunities to learn, communicate and engage through technology.
SRS has also been delivering aged care services since 2000, and was the first provider to deliver remote aged care services throughout the Mallee Track, often working in partnership with other organisations to support rural and remote communities.
In 2020, SRS became a registered aged care provider, expanding its services to include cleaning, gardening and maintenance support while introducing the CONNECT program. The initiative provides transport and social opportunities for older residents, helping them remain active, connected and engaged with their community.
Looking to the future
SRS’ success has been built on the dedication of countless staff members, volunteers, board members, families and supporters who have contributed their time, expertise and passion over the past 50 years.
Today, the organisation stands as a trusted provider of disability and aged care services, committed to creating opportunities, building capability and fostering inclusion across the region.
As SRS prepares to celebrate its golden anniversary, it remains firmly committed to the belief that inspired its founders half a century ago: that every person deserves the opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive.
The 50th Birthday celebration will honour the past, celebrate the present and inspire the future of disability and aged care support throughout Sunraysia.
Media Contact:
Vinnie Rodi – Marketing and Events Coordinator
Phone: 0439 364 781
Email: vrodi@srsinc.com.au