For the past 20 years the garden centre, in conjunction with Challenge Southern Highlands has provided employment opportunities and support to people with disabilities.

However, a significant decrease in nursery sales and public donations has considerably lowered revenues at the centre that support its charitable purpose.

"It is going to fall back on the community if we don't support disability employment," said Tony McElhinney, general manager of Challenge Southern Highlands.

"We will go back to the old days where people with disabilities were either left roaming the streets or locked inside all day".

Since it was established by Challenge in 1989 the Welby Garden Centre has become a successful retail and wholesale nursery.

"It is required by the government that we have a business unit attached to the service because the government wants all services to be self-sufficient," Tony said. "A local nursery may employ 4 or 5 people, where we employ 60, with 42 having disabilities; so that makes money and labour cost a big issue."

Government funding represents only 15 percent of the centre's total revenues, and unlike other small businesses Challenge is limited in its ability to lower its costs.

"Our contract with the government means we cannot terminate anyone's employment who has a disability," Tony said. "We aren't allowed to but any other business can".

It is only through nursery sales, business activities, fundraising and community support that the charity is able to survive.

"We are a charity and the nature of a charity is that everything you make is put back into the organisation, and that's what we do," Tony said.

In the program, employees are taught skills that will enable them to live in the community with minimal assistance.

They are given the opportunity to work in all aspects of the nursery, help with the Highlands Post delivery and also undertake horticultural courses or TAFE classes in various areas.

The future of disability employment with Challenge Southern Highlands is uncertain.

"We are looking to the community for assistance," said Tony. "People with disabilities are vulnerable in an open work environment. We need services like this to protect them."

Challenge Southern Highlands wishes to encourage the local community to help by purchasing plants and items from the nursery or through making a donation. For more information on the organisation or how you can help save the jobs of people with disabilities please call 48721244.