Robyn Watchorn has spent 33 years helping people improve their lives.

On Friday, she retired from her position as the East Coast MP’s senior community adviser at the Whakatāne East Coast Electorate office, saying: “I’m 82 at Christmas; it’s probably time people think I should retire.”

She doesn’t plan to rest on her laurels just yet.

“I’m being installed at the end of October to be Grand Master of New Zealand for a community organisation called Manchester Unity Friendly Society.

She describes the organisation, which she has been a member of since 1962, as “people helping people”.

"My life has been geared around trying to help people turn their lives around and showing them pathways to do those things.”

Mrs Watchorn is proud of the MPs she has worked with, starting with East Cape MP Tony Ryall in 1992.

“I like to tell people I’ve been in this job since Tony Ryall had hair,” she said.

“I’ve worked with a few.”

The three main ones have been Mr Ryall, Anne Tolley and current East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick.

“I also worked for Sam Uffindell (Tauranga) for three months and Todd McLay (Rotorua) for a year. Then I’ve had casual contracts with three other MPs, mostly Louise Upston (Taupō), Todd Muller (Bay of Plenty) and Tim van de Molen (Waikato). Last year I did some work with Katie Nimon (Napier).

“It’s all been a great experience.”

She refuses to name a favourite, saying only, “they are all special”.

“It’s been a privilege to work with MPs, because contrary to what people think, MPs are very hard-working people. I would not want to be an MP. It’s 24/7.

“I’ve been absolutely blessed that the MPs that I’ve worked for have all been good quality and of the same values that I have. That’s pretty important, when you are proud of the people that you work with.”

She describes her job with Parliamentary Services, as apolitical.

“It’s not our job to convince people to join parties or to protect or justify what any Government is doing. We only deal with facts and people come in, they want their problem solved and we see how we can assist in solving that problem.”

She describes the office as being similar to Citizens Advice Bureau, times  500 percent.

“Because we have direct lines to Government departments and MPs.

“It’s never boring. You can’t keep a tidy desk in this job. You could have 20 people in, or on the phone, in a day and each topic would be different.

"There have been many lives I’ve been able to influence or change - solve their problems but also empower them to sort out their own problems when another one comes along.

“We have a lot of lateral thinking and a lot of common sense and a lot of experience.”

She said her age had not been an issue in her job.

“Parliament holds me up as a role model for staff. That’s quite a confidence thing because they don’t feel like they’re going to be cast aside as soon as they turn 65. While your mind and your energy and efficiency still remains, you are an asset not a liability.”

It is a spectacular achievement, considering the prognosis she was given by doctors as a teenager.

“I spent three years in hospital as a teenager with bone diseases. Was given the prognosis of being in a wheelchair from age 45. I said to my husband, when we got married, ‘are you sure you want to take this on?’

“But now, with hip replacement, spinal fusion and knee replacements I’m the bionic woman.”

She said there were still times when she had to “make that energy”.

"But I’m a Sagittarian and they do that. We’re known for being gregarious.”

Mrs Watchorn’s love of serving the community goes back to her days as a young mum, raising a family on their Stanley Road farm.

“I did things with the children - cub leader, scout leader, girl guide leader, Girl Guide Commissioner – all that sort of stuff.”

By the time she was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to community and the arts in the 2020 New Year Honours, she could count 27 organisations that had benefitted from her involvement.

Most people in the Eastern Bay know her as an artist, art teacher, Justice of the Peace, and marriage and funeral celebrant.

She plans to involve herself with a greater variety of different arts as more time becomes available to her.

“I’ve recently started going to floral art meetings again and I will be able to be more involved in the arts.”

She has recently rediscovered the art of porcelain painting using modern techniques.

Her art will continue to be displayed at the electorate office where it has brightened the walls for many years.