FOR the first time in two decades, Kay Fraser will just be herself.
Not 'the architect', 'the naughty aunty', a Labor councillor or 'madam mayor', but she will always be a strong advocate for the city of Lake Macquarie.
As the sun sets on a remarkable 20-year career in public office, eight of which she served as mayor, Cr Fraser has looked back on the full-time job that stretches well beyond the hours of 9 to 5.
"As soon as I put my hand up for mayor, I knew I was going to be a different style of mayor," Cr Fraser said.
"I wasn't going to be political, I wasn't going to rule with an iron glove.
"I was going to be fair, I was going to treat everyone equally and that's what I've tried to do for the whole eight years."
Her road to public office was not always straight-forward. Growing up in the country town of Wellington, Cr Fraser said they did not have much.
"We didn't have anyone to advocate on our behalf, so as I got older I thought about that," she said.
"How everyone should have access to everything."
Before she ever stood for a position on council, Cr Fraser worked for the federal Member for Shortland Jill Hall and as a youth justice convener with Juvenile Justice and Corrective Services.
When a young person committed a crime, it was her job to hold a round table with the people involved to facilitate restorative justice; making sure offenders took responsibility for their actions and the harm done to victims was repaired.
"It was hectic, but rewarding, there are so many lovely young kids out there and it's not their fault that they were off the road," Cr Fraser said.
One of her personal priorities has always been making sure people have a voice and an advocate, and so Cr Fraser became active in the community.
In 2004, she was asked by a Labor councillor if she would like to stand on his ticket.
"I didn't realise what a huge impact you could have as a councillor, and even more so as a mayor," she said.
"That's where the rubber hits the road I reckon.
"State and federal governments have got the big budget, the big money, but local government actually deliver the services that you and I use every day."
When Cr Fraser was first elected, she was one of two women in the chamber and said it was a "very intimidating" environment.
Most of her male colleagues were older and women were not encouraged to speak up.
"It was very much male dominated, very much a bully sort of environment," she said.
"It wasn't welcoming at all."
During a debate on GPT Group's Charlestown Square development when she started out, the community was emotionally charged and a group of men were yelling out from a packed public gallery.
"They were allowed to continue to do that while I was speaking," Cr Fraser said.
"They just sort of harassed and harangued me, I felt a bit vulnerable that time.
"But you know, 18 to 20 years ago it was a different world, and it should be a world where everyone feels welcome to speak and is encouraged to speak up and everyone's opinion is valid."
During her first term as mayor, Cr Fraser said it "wasn't as civilised" as what she would have liked, but the functionality of a good council comes down to the dynamics in the chamber.
"I think if you don't react to that, it shows true leadership," she said.
"I don't think you should ever conduct yourself the way that some people might conduct themselves in the chamber.
"The standard you walk past is the standard you accept, I believe it's a respectful position but you have to earn that respect."
The job comes with a lot of demands, pressure, responsibility and commitment, it can be lonely at times and the visibility of the role means there is never really time off.
It has meant missing time with family and going toe-to-toe with politicians from both sides to make sure the city gets its fair share.
"Government departments, I'm happy to slam them, especially Transport for NSW, but it's worked," she said.
"I had to, we had to, because we weren't getting any traction."
When Cr Fraser first started, the city had an ageing population with more retirees than working citizens and the economy relied on mining and manufacturing.
Now, Lake Macquarie generates $26.1 billion in economic output each year, accounting for 19.6 per cent of the Hunter region's contribution.
It's home to about 220,000 residents and the council itself is an organisation which employs some 1300 people.
"I think we've changed the city completely around," Cr Fraser said.
"We can see the investment in our city, we've set up an economic development board and we've been working really closely with investors to come to our city.
"Things like Costco didn't just happen because they put a pin in a map and decided to come here, Black Rock Motorsport Resort didn't happen because it was easy, it happened because we worked really hard to get that over the line."
Cr Fraser has always had an open-door policy and said she has tried to bring happiness and light to the role of mayor.
"You can't always be serious," she said.
"I think it's my laugh that always astounds people."
Cr Fraser said it was her decision to step down and she felt now was the right time.
Proud of her eight years at the helm, Cr Fraser said she was "chuffed" with her legacy.
"I'm stepping away at a high," she said.
"As I look around the city and what we've delivered as a team, I think we've done extremely well, I'm very proud of what we've done."
She said she was incredibly thankful to her fellow councillors, her family and her husband Carey who had been an "absolute support".
Her advice to the next mayor is to take their time, take a deep breath and think deeply about what they want to achieve over the next four years.
"Make sure you collaborate with every councillor, make sure you have a great working relationship with the executives and CEO, because no one person can run the council," she said.
"No one person can decide what should happen to this great city, and we have a great legacy.
"So it will be on their shoulders to make sure they deliver for the next generation of people, for Lake Macquarie."
Voters will head to the ballot box for local government elections September 14.
