KATE Head got to laugh with children every single day of her 19 years as director of Orana Community Preschool.
"It doesn't matter what else is going on in your life, when you come in and see those smiling children it's beautiful," Ms Head said.
It's one of the elements of her 33 year career in early education she will miss the most.
The mother to five and grandmother to seven joined Orana as its director in 2000 and started her handover to new director Helen Houston last August.
"It was time," she said after a farewell morning tea on Wednesday.
"It just felt right. I'm looking forward to more family time and staying active. If you don't use it you'll lose it."
Ms Head took long service leave this August to represent Australia in the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne and came 40th in her category.
She is now considering attempting a Half Ironman. She said she would continue visiting the centre into the future.
"It can be overwhelming when children start preschool.
"It might be good at the beginning of next year for them to have an extra pair of arms to give hugs."
