Fifty-two years in the retail industry makes for a pretty impressive work record.
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But, now it's time for Lithgow Harvey Norman employee Kathy Haley to head into a well-deserved retirement.
Kathy was just 15 when she left her schooling at Lithgow High to step out into the work force at Bracey's Lithgow, which is now known as Dimmeys.
She spent 40 years working for the department store in a range of roles.
"I worked in a few different areas, I started in cosmetics and haberdashery, then went into the furniture section and then the curtain department where I got to fit and measure," she said.
After the "heart of Lithgow" department store shut down, Kathy entered employment with Harvey Norman which bought the Bracey's furniture and electrical section.
"I've been at Harvey Norman for 12 years now, it was very sad when Bracey's shut down but I was fortunate to get the job," Kathy said.
She worked her way through the ranks and gained her full-time position as Harvey Norman's furniture manager and said, she had seen plenty of changes.
It hasn't sunk in yet that I'm leaving, it probably will on my last day when I realise I won't have to come into work anymore.
- Kathy Haley
"I've seen lots of changes in 52 years, how much retail has changed in a lot of ways from Bracey's to Harvey Norman," she said.
Kathy said she loved her job and the opportunities it had given her.
"I love my job at Harvey Norman, meeting new people and seeing familiar faces come in, I guess I grew up with retail as my comfort zone and I never wanted to leave," she said.
She said she enjoyed coming into work and she would find it hard to leave.
"I never thought I'd leave because I enjoy coming to work, if I didn't I wouldn't have stayed so long.
"I will miss it but you can't work forever," she said.
Kathy also said she had made lots of good friends and had plenty of good times with her employment at Harvey Norman.
"I've had a good time here but it's time to retire and spend time with my family.
"I've got plans to travel with my husband, relax and spend time with my grandchildren," she said.
Although she's ready to enjoy retirement, Kathy said she would still be around Lithgow.
"I may not be working anymore but I'll still get to see everybody around town," she said.
She wanted to thank Harvey Norman for the employment it had given her and for the people she had met.
"I've enjoyed my work life. It hasn't sunk in yet that I'm leaving, it probably will on my last day when I realise I won't have to come into work anymore," she said.
Kathy will work her last shift at Harvey Norman on Friday, July 12 and said she was set to have a night out with her work colleagues to reminisce on the good times.
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