After 50 years of service to the rural health industry, Faye Sole has retired from her important role as a registered nurse at Guyra Multi Purpose Services, to adopt a different pace on her farm.

Lesley Webb, the Health Service Manager for Guyra MPS, has known Faye for many years and said her commitment to the facility was invaluable.

"Faye is someone with strong leadership skills and above all else lots of common sense", she said.

Debbie Heagney is another colleague that has witnessed the influential role Faye has played at Guyra Hospital.

"Faye has always had the ability to accept and adapt to the many changes that the health system has seen. She was always the first to listen, accept and run with new ideas and definitely did not get stuck in ways of the past", she said.

With a diverse range of qualifications including her remote X-ray licence, as well as the extensive experience she has in health facilities in areas such as Tamworth, Glen Innes, Tingha and Guyra, Faye has made a significant contribution to rural health throughout her career.

"There have been a lot of highlights and sad moments throughout my career but that is the beauty of the profession. I would strongly recommend nursing as a career as it has brought me a lot of fulfilment," says Faye.

A significant moment for Faye in her extensive career was back in 1960 when Little Boy Lost, Steven Walls was found after spending four days lost in bush land ending the biggest land and air search in the area to date.

"It was a touching when he was brought into the Guyra War Memorial Hospital and see him safe and sound at last and to be reunited with his extended family," says Faye.

Faye has witnessed the shift in training methods for upcoming nurses from a focus on practical training, to theory in university degrees.

"In my opinion, the university graduates have a much higher level of theory than we did as first year nurses, yet their practical skills are much lower than ours were. Therefore, they can help us and we can help them. In a way, it balances out," says Faye.

One of the biggest challenges Faye will face upon retirement will be learning to live with her husband again.

"It will be nice to have some time to do whatever I want and just simply see what happens. I think the best thing will be not having my day revolving around an alarm," says Faye.

Faye’s 50 year commitment to the health industry is highly commendable but more specifically, the role she played in Guyra Multi Purpose Services is one that will not be forgotten easily. Her community involvement, as well as her common sense and experience, placed her as a highly respected and recognised member of staff.