Tamworth midwife Rhonda Lawler will reflect on extraordinary workmates and family bonds when she retires

More than half a century into her career as a midwife - and previously a nurse - she looked around at photos of babies and cards covering her walls and called her room a place of happiness.

Mrs Lawler will retire late next month after a family-filled career spanning more than 50 years.

"I am going to grow older gracefully and I am going to think many, many times about the life that has passed and the many people that have made me smile and made me happy," she said.

"If I have had a small input in their lives too, I am so touched."

Mrs Lawler has been working with Dr Ken Apen for more than a decade, spent years with Dr Keith Hollebone, and played a major role at both Tamworth and Tamara hospitals, all since marrying a Tamworth man back in 1971.

She earlier trained at the hospital now called Westmead, and specialised in midwifery.

Thousands of babies, some heartbreak, plenty of wonder and joy; it's the families and workmates Mrs Lawler will remember most.

"There is always lots of laughter here - there are tears and we most certainly respect that - but it's a happy place because people are relaxed here," she said.

"I would like to pay homage to the wonderful people that I work with - the many, many people that I have worked with."

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Mrs Lawler has been part of some local family's births for three generations.

She's been honoured with being named a godparent, has been invited to 18^th birthdays and weddings, and she's been there for hard times too.

She gave her phone number to countless mums-to-be to call 24/7 as a safety net.

"It's all about the mothers," she said.

She loves to see kids grow up around her and said caring is what nursing is about.

"You form a bond with patients - whether you hold hands, whether you make them smile, whether you feed them, whether you are there for them to communicate with, that's part of being a nurse," she said.

But it's getting harder.

Mrs Lawler has seen changes across the decades but more are needed - especially in regional health.

"The fact is the shortage of staff in the hospital, the lack of communication in the hospital, the lack of medical services," she said.

Mrs Lawler said now was simply her time to retire.

She described Dr Apen as a wonderful man and exceptionally hard worker, and said practice manager Lynn Rose had been invaluable.

Ms Rose summed it up: "There will be another midwife, but there will never be another Rhonda."

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