A NEWSPAPER office provides a window on a local community, with the diverse range of people and information regularly flowing through it.

For more than 25 years, Sheree Constable has borne witness to that cavalcade of Wangaratta humanity from behind the counter at Rowan Street's North East Media, becoming a familiar face for the business' many visitors, as well as a friendly, trusted workmate.

This week marks the end of that chapter in Sheree's life, as she heads into retirement and looks forward to spending more time with her three children, six grandchildren and husband Howard.

Unsurprisingly, her impending departure has offered the chance to reflect on a quarter of a century of interaction with the local community, in a workplace where she said she felt at home from her very first day.

Sheree came to what was then North East Newspapers in April, 1997 as a casual employee, after eight years in the office at The Co–Store and 15 years at home raising children Sharna, Travis and Taryn.

"I loved spending time with my kids, and The Co–Store was a really good grounding for office work, so I knew that was what I wanted to do," she said.

"Then I started here as a casual, and before long I was full–time. I've loved the variety of the work, and just the vibe of the place – things happening all the time...meeting deadlines, and I've really loved dealing with the public.

"People will often ring here if they don't know who else to ask about a question they have; we might be their first port of call to direct them to information.

"We have our regulars, including people who still come in asking to buy 'the local', and you know they will go home and spend time reading everything in it.

"Of course, so many darling old souls we used to see all the time have passed away, and you miss them, but we have a lot of people who come in for each paper or to let us know what's happening."

Sheree remembers regular visits from long–time contributor Bill O'Callaghan before his passing; the booming voice of the late Kevin Sanderson sounding in the foyer as he delivered the stock report and collected his paper; and the late Phil Gambold dropping in to alert the paper to events in his beloved King Valley.

"Then there are people like June Uebergang and Pete McQuade, who have also been regular visitors, and even Craig from the pet shop next door, who comes in to get his paper or let us know what's happening in the street, and often brings us donuts," she said.

While those connections with the community have remained constant – even through COVID–19 restrictions – Sheree said she'd seen plenty of change in newspaper production since 1997, when The Chronicle was printed on the mornings of publication days ("if it was ever late, you'd have people waiting out the front") and papers were laid out in a manual 'paste–up' area – work all now done on computer.

There has also been a passing parade of colleagues at Rowan Street, from former editor and general manager Phil Nolan and former advertising manager Peter Hines, to production staff like Ron 'Mulga' Smith, John Adamo, Mick Friend and Dave Dyer, and journalists including Jacquie Schwind and the late Kylie Wilson, who have left their imprint on the paper and the staff.

Where there's news, there are often well–known names, and Sheree remembers welcoming many of them at the front counter of the years, including singer Normie Rowe, actor John Wood, politician Barnaby Joyce and meteorologist Jane Bunn.

"We've also had people bring all sorts of things into the office – from the giant vegetables including tomatoes, zucchinis and sweet potatoes, to lambs dressed in jumpers, a carpet snake and even a python, dogs, and the pig that was regularly walked around Wangaratta," Sheree said.

"Then there are the newborn babies with their proud mums and dads who come in to have their photos taken or place birth notices.

"And there are also the sad times and the tragedies, when you're speaking to bereaved people and see the personal side of those events.

"I will miss the rapport with my workmates, the laughs, and the many people I've met. I've always been proud to work here, and while we've had challenging times – including during COVID restrictions and all that came with that – I've really enjoyed it.

"I'm looking forward to spending time with Howie and my kids and grandkids and my friends, and I also want to be mindful of being fit and healthy and spending time in the sunshine in the garden."