He’s been a feature in the main street gardens for a long time but starting Monday 16 February, Ag (Michael) Quilkey is officially retired.
Now he is on the prowl for a new hobby.
At the 11 February Council meeting, Coonamble’s Mayor Dan Keady thanked Mr Quilkey for his years of dedication to keeping the town beautiful.
Ag joined the Coonamble Shire’s parks and gardens team just short of 14 years ago.
He attended “a quick horticultural course” and has trained on the job.
From planting flowers, sweeping streets, to hosing buildings and cleaning toilets, there was no task Ag was not willing to take on.
“I’d go anywhere they needed a hand,” he said.
“I liked when we had flowers in, and I enjoyed when they’d send you somewhere else to do jobs, just doing different things.”
He says he won’t miss the weeds or the public toilets.
Mr Quilkey started at the shire in 2012, and after working at the local GrainCorp receival site for 34 years.
Now, after almost five decades in the workforce he kicked off his work boots off for the last time on Monday.
“I turned 67 yesterday, I hope that’s retirement age.”
With 40 extra hours of free time, Ag is looking for ways to keep himself busy.
“I’m going mad already only three days into retirement.
“I’ve got a bit to do in the yard but that’s not going to last long.”
He says he’s usually not allowed to mow his lawn at home, due to a differing opinion to his wife Dawn over optimum lawn height.
However that might change now.
Ag is looking forward to seeing what is done with the parks and gardens.
All they need, he says, is “energetic workers and a bit of colour”.