Now as she has retired as one of the longest servicing members of staff at the hospital, she has reflected back on the good times she had while working as an assistant in nursing and an enrolled nurse at the hospital.

Patty has lived in Tingha all of her life, and became a nurse as it provided her with the opportunity to work close to home while interacting with people.

"When I first started the hospital was very different from how it is now.

"There was a female ward, men's ward, children's ward and also a maternity ward, and I really used to enjoy helping out in the maternity ward.

"Now a lot of those services have gone, it certainly has changed, but I would have to say it has changed for the better."

The former Tingha Cottage Hospital was pulled down last year after a Multi Purpose Service opened, and while Patty said she was happy to see the new hospital open, it was still a sad day for her to see the hospital she worked at for 45 years pulled down.

"It is an entirely different place now, and I thought it was a bit of a shame that the old one had to go, but there has to be progress, and it is certainly for the better.

"I remember some of the nurses getting together to try and get a air conditioner for the old place, now the new one has it all."

Another thing that has changed for the better since Patty started nursing is the introduction of a number of labour saving devices.

"I'm surprised that I haven't got any back problems from all the heavy lifting we used to do, we didn't even have shower chairs or anything like that, we used to wash the patients in the bath, now we have chairs and lifters and it makes things a lot easier and better for everyone."

In today's day and age it is almost unheard of for people to stick to the same career for more than 10 years, let alone the same job at the same place, but Patty said she would not have it any other way.

"I worked in Inverell for a while before I started working and didn't enjoy it, I love living in Tingha and I certainly enjoyed my job.

"I wouldn't have stuck to it for as long as I did if I didn't enjoy it, all the people I worked with and the patients made it very enjoyable."

Patty's workmates will also miss her a great deal, particularly her energy and passion for her job.

"Patty has always been a great worker and has an incredible amount of energy," said Patty's colleague Robyn Norman.