Clutha Health First and Bates Pharmacy part-owner local pharmacist Margo Roxburgh has looked after the health needs of locals for 44 years, and recently decided it was time to retire.
"I’ve had a good crack at it, and it’s a good time for me to have some time to myself now," Mrs Roxburgh said.
Locals have described her as a "staple" in the community.
She has enjoyed becoming a full-time New Zealander since she moved to the country in 1981 from Scotland to pursue a career in pharmacy.
Out of three places — Balclutha, Greymouth and Whakatane — she chose Balclutha, and has been there ever since.
"I actually visited a friend in Whanganui for a holiday prior to looking for a job here and decided I quite liked it," she said.
"I thought I’d stay a couple of years when I moved over — but I met my husband Lloyd during that time, so here I am, many years later!"
She met her husband when she joined the South Otago Aero Club and the pair got married in 1985.
Mrs Roxburgh said she found the transition "easy" and found there was a great connection between her and the welcoming people around her in Balclutha.
She started the job at the old Clutha Health First hospital and was provided a house nearby.
After being recruited in another area for six months she was given a job at Grays Pharmacy in Balclutha, where she worked for two years before returning to the Clutha Health First hospital for around 19 years, then moved on to helping both the hospital and working at Bates Pharmacy in Balclutha.
She said she had memories of transporting controlled drugs and medications in a police car to the hospital and joked about struggling to work the safes on the day the new Clutha Health First hospital opened in 1998.
Mrs Roxburgh had two maternity leaves to have her two children and also flew a lot for the aero club. She was national champion in 1992 and represented New Zealand in Australia in 1993.
She has part-owned Bates Pharmacy for about 16 years alongside Ngaire Taylor and Mark Lahood, and enjoyed building up the business.
Her recent favourite moments were having noodle days during Covid-19 lockdowns, where the pharmacy team was still working long hours to service the community.
She also recently went to Hastings to offer pharmacy help to people affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Mrs Roxburgh plans to relax, do some gardening/housework and catch up with friends, along with using her caravan to take her and her husband travelling.
