Since 1986 she’s been the warm and friendly face at the front desk at Nambour Clinic Family Medicine.

In that time Desley Goggin, who retired last week, was aware of the sensitive role she played being the first and last face often seriously ill people would see as they visited their doctor.

“You have to be very careful,” she said. “You have to be very aware that people are ill and treat them with understanding, respect and kindness at all times. You don’t know what they’re going through.”

Desley paid tribute to the positive work environment at the Nambour clinic. 

“I loved working here,” she said. “You don’t last 35 years in a place that isn’t wonderful. The patients are lovely. And we are all treated equally here. We all had our own jobs and our own areas of responsibility and the doctors respect the staff.

“My work certainly provided me with lots of personal growth and skills I might not have had otherwise. It’s given me a sense of  identity and of belonging, of being part of a team.”

Desley said she had witnessed many changes over the years. “We’ve gone from cards to computers. Medicare used to be manual. Now it’s all done online. Doctors use computers for prescriptions, referrals and notes.”

And since Covid she’s seen screens, masks and social distancing precautions become the norm.

“People have certainly became more tense lately, understandably, but our patients are generally lovely.” 

Dr Sebastian Lambooy said Desley had been a wonderful person to have in the clinic.  

“She has seen a lot of technology changes but has managed to stay focused on what matters most: the patient.  To present to your doctors’ office and be greeted with a smile by someone who acknowledges you as a person is critical. 

“Desley personifies this. Respect and integrity. The patients and all of us here at the Nambour clinic will miss her and wish her and John her husband a great retirement.”

• Nambour Clinic Family Medicine is at 6 Sydney Street, Nambour.