Community Rallies to Bring Joy to Boy’s 10th Birthday
COOTAMUNDRA, NSW — When Sarah Tattam worried her son Nate might spend his 10th birthday without friends, she made a simple request on Facebook: drive by and honk.
What followed was an extraordinary outpouring of community support.
"Approximately 50 people attended over the two days."
Nate lives with ADHD, autism, intellectual disabilities, and a speech and language delay. His family recently moved to Cootamundra, and his birthday was looking lonely.
On Saturday, emergency services answered the call. Three fire trucks, two ambulances, and a police car arrived at the family’s home. The next day, even more groups joined in: Black Dog Ride, Wandering Wedgetails, and a restoration club brought motorbikes and classic cars.
The highlight? A donated aerial tour for Nate.
Cootamundra Gundagai Mayor Abb McAlister noted that while the family was new to the area, the community’s welcome was immediate and heartfelt.