The Inverell resident, who worked seven hours per week in the sheriff’s office, said a lot had changed in the last half a century.

“I changed from handwritten, to the typewriter, to the electric typewriter and then to the computer and that’s when I really went gray,” Mrs Cox said.

“It’s still sending me silly.”

But there was also a lot that didn’t change, she said.

“As far as the legal side of it goes, not that much has changed except that I’ve seen a lot of sheriff officers leave and they didn’t replace a permanent sheriff officer which was sad,” she said.

“Now they send these young people over from Tamworth which is very good.”

But perhaps the greatest change of all is that now, the office will be closed.

“As of Thursday the sheriff’s office will be closed permanently and any sheriff inquiries will run through the registry,” Mrs Cox said.

“It’s an end of an era today.”

Mrs Cox was the first clerical officer at the sheriff’s office when she first started in June 1963.

“The best part about this job has been the people,” she said.

“I have loved the people I’ve met and the staff are all very nice and I have also learnt a lot of course.

“The clients as well were always very good and supportive and I’ve always enjoyed it.”

To honour her final day at the office, Mrs Cox’s daughter gave her 53 red roses for each year.

Staff members also showered her with flowers and a morning tea to celebrate with the magistrate, court staff and sheriff’s office. 

Acting regional manager for north Monique Muir said the day was certainly a milestone for everyone at the court house.

“Margaret started working here when her daughter was only 11 months old so her daughter has grown up around her working at the court house,” she said.

“She was saying how many premiers she has seen come through.

“It’s not very common these days for people to stay in an organisation for that long.”

Acting officer-in-charge Danny Hudson visits from Tamworth on a weekly basis and always enjoyed working alongside Mrs Cox. 

“We come up here every Thursday and she’s always really good,” he said.

When The Times asked Mrs Cox what she would do with all of her spare time now she replied, “extra days at bingo”. “I’ve got a lot of friends that go so that will be nice,” she said.

“I’ve got a 91-year-old sister too that goes to bingo so I’ll be able to join her.”