Now aged 70 Barb has been working at Blooms the Chemist at Singleton Heights for seven years and has become very much part of the Blooms establishment and so it was with some sadness on Friday that they officially marked her retirement with flowers and best wishes.

For the record the average age of retirement in Australia is 55.3 years - so Barb has certainly surpassed that figure.

"I have loved my time at Blooms and working with the owner Sung Wei and the other staff and our wonderful customers, " Barb said.

"But now its time to spend more time with my two grand daughters Lilly aged five and Poppy three.

"Plus I love gardening so now I have more time to spend in the garden and doing some interior designing."

Before working at Blooms Barb spent a number of years working in town for Hunter Floor Style. The mother of three said working and keeping busy was very therapeutic for her especially following the death of her son Bonn when he was only seven-years-old.

"Just keeping busy was important for me during that time following his death and it has continued to play a vital role but now I am ready to retire," she said.

Born and bred in Singleton Barb has seven siblings five of whom still live locally as well as her son Paris and his family.