BACK in the mid 1970s, Everald Compton, a man from a Brisbane rotary club, decided that seniors needed more independant representation.

So, he and some other like-minded people, started up a group which is now known as the National Seniors Australia and is the consumer lobby for older Australians.

This year marked the organisations 40th anniversary, so more than 200 members from the seven branches of Zone 109 came together to celebrate the occasion.

"It was a great afternoon," Zone 109 chair and president of the Garden City branch Hazel Gillies said.

"The staff were wonderful, the music was great and there were lots of raffles and lucky draw prizes.

"It was a nice crowd."

Members from branches at places like Dalby and Chinchilla were able to attend the event thanks to a grant which meant the zone could hire a bus to take them to and from their homes.

"It was great that we could all get together," Mrs Gillies said.

Mr Compton, one of the founders, was able to attend the event at the USQ Refectory on September 23.