Ms Townsend retired from the hospital last Friday.

"It was a much more emotional day than I thought it would be to be honest," she said.

"I was just overwhelmed by the staff's response and farewell from people around the hospital.

"It turned out to be much more emotional than I thought, but in a good way."

Ms Townsend started at the hospital as a radiographer in the 1970s and said she has seen a lot of change in her department since then.

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"When I started in 1976, there was four radiographers in x-ray," she said.

"Now, I think there is a full-time equivalent of about 21 or more than that.

"We have 21 for radiography and ultrasound plus the support staff of clerical and nurses."

Dubbo is now home to multiple practices which are capable of providing medical imaging, but Ms Townsend knows it was not always the case in the past.

"There was one private practice in town but it was just the doctor and one radiographer," she said.

"There was no CT [scanner] in Dubbo and when I started our department consisted of two x-ray rooms and there was one at the private practice.

"Now, radiology has got ultrasound, CT, MRI and it is hugely different."

For Ms Townsend, the biggest change for her is knowing she will not return to work at the hospital, but it is one she is ready for.

"I guess just the change in routine of going to work," she said.

"Missing the people there, they've become a second family.

"It'll be a big change, at the moment it feels like I'm on holiday.

"Even not that because when you go on holiday, you go back to work in a month or a few weeks.

"It feels very different at the moment."

There are many changes happening at the hospital and Ms Townsend believes the community and surrounding areas deserve the upgrades.

"It is well deserved for the community and this town," she said.

But for Ms Townsend, there is one upgrade which she is most looking forward to seeing in action to provide a service to the region which will be a great benefit to the ever expanding medical facility.

"18 months ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer," she said.

"It makes you realise how good it is to be able to have local services and having things like treatments and help for not just cancer but other areas as well."

The Western Cancer Centre is expected to open later this year and Ms Townsend is excited to see the facility help many people who have to travel to Orange or Sydney currently for treatment.

"To have it locally and to have your family and support network around you.

"It will be really good to see it, especially the cancer centre, up and running to provide a service for Western NSW," she said.

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