Her sunny, can-do attitude has accompanied her all throughout her nursing career in Ararat and Willaura with East Grampians Health Service, and she plans to maintain it throughout her retirement.

Mrs Byron's last day was last week, and was the end of almost 60 years of service.

She approached it in the spirit of fun, dressing up in her original nursing uniform from the 1960s.

"I just made my last day a fun day, which is what it should be," she said.

"I never knew how I would feel on my last day but because I dressed up that day and visited most departments of the hospital, it was a very joyous, happy and awesome day. I didn't cry."

Mrs Byron commenced her nursing training in Ararat, at what was then called the Ararat and District Hospital in 1962, taking time off to get married to Lance Byron and returning in 1969 to complete her training.

Eventually she was asked to work in District Nursing, which she knew very little about.

Nonetheless, she took on the challenge and stayed in that field for 37 years, 25 of which were as the unit manager.

She also worked as a clinician for the Aged Care Assessment Service and at Willaura Healthcare.

During her time Mrs Byron was a central figure for staff in training.

"I had lots of work experience students, university students at all levels who came, and we worked with them," she said.

"Some of them reminded me of that, because some are still on staff. I had a 15 year old as a work experience girl and then as a grad student, and she's still there. Another girl came up to me and said 'you know I was one of your students'. I can't remember them all but I was pretty chuffed."

Associate Nurse Unit Manager Terry-Anne Lewis was one of those students who is still at East Grampians Health Service.

"Yvonne has been there from right when I was a student to now, so the whole 14 years, and she's been a mentor," she said.

"That mentorship and support, and her wealth of knowledge about the town helped our job so much more.

"She's just such a fun person, always so happy to see you and she was always so positive so that probably helped too.

"She gave us a positive attitude towards nursing and life in general - she's had it tough and been through it - so resilience also."

Ms Lewis said she was already feeling the loss.

"I really needed her today for some information," she said.

"I was just went to ring her and then I realised she wasn't here. I will miss her tremendously."

Mrs Byron was also a central part of the social life in the medical community.

She was president of the Hospital Social Club, an inaugural member of the Annual Staff Celebration Ball, employee of the year in 2002 and 2003, member of the Aims Committee and chairperson of the 150 Anniversary Celebrations and Staff Reunion, to name just a few.

"I'm a social person," she said.

"I'll miss the comradeship, whether it's with clients, staff or doctors, but if you make an effort you can keep in contact. There's already a group of us who go out to dinner once a month anyway."

Now that she is officially retired, Mrs Byron plans to take a 10 day cruise through the South Pacific, and has left all other plans to figure out once she returns.

Either way, she is sure to be busy.

"I always plan to have some lazy days and I plan not to have lazy days," she said.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from The Ararat Advertiser. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Ararat shire, sign up here.