Past and present staff and volunteers gathered at a morning tea on July 16 to wish Ms Peck all the best in her retirement.

Ms Peck started as manager at the Dodds Street centre just over 20 years ago after moving from Sydney.

“We made a life here and I wanted to work in a way that helped the community,” Ms Peck said.

And that is exactly what she did.

The Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre’s services have grown over the past 20 years.

“We started with so little,” she said.

“Well, relatively speaking, we still have very little but we have learnt to do a lot with an oily rag.

“Still we have three sites delivering needed services for the community, and whilst the services have grown, our focus has remained on assisting those experiencing financial hardship, social isolation and vulnerable families.”

Ms Peck said the volunteers she had worked alongside had been amazing.

“I’ve met so many families, seen their children grow, helped out where we could when times were hard,” she said.

“I could tell so many stories but I want to respect the privacy of their journeys.

“Look, it is the people and the relationships that are the constant highlight for me.”

Ms Peck believes one of the best parts of the manager’s position is to see the change in clients who may initially be resistant to assistance but who come to trust you and end up being friends.

“Overwhelmingly it is watching the staff and volunteers grow within their positions and continue day after day often in the face of adversity,” she said.

The neighbourhood centre has evolved from hosting play groups, craft and blue light discos to offering 40 funded programs catering to the most disadvantaged children and families.

“We try to be flexible and respond to changing need,” Ms Peck said.

“We have seen an increase in homelessness, material aid needs, generational poverty and isolation since the service first began.”

Ms Peck said the good times had always outweighed the bad.

Her retirement plans are not to have too many plans.

 “I will spend time with my family, in both Port and Newcastle,” she said.

“I am happy to keep my options open.”

Leesa-Rae Harrison will take on the manager’s role at the Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre.