Peter Williams hung up his concierge's uniform for the last time on Good Friday after 26 years of serving guests at Leura's iconic Fairmont Resort.
In the summer of 1989 a fresh-faced Mr Williams stepped through the resort's front door, put on his porter's jacket and welcomed the first of what would end up being several hundred-thousand Fairmont Resort guests under his watch in the coming decades.
Mr Williams has seen the hotel go through four different owners and experienced everything from serving families who have come to stay at the hotel time and again to honeymooning couples and celebrity guests including high profile politicians and movie stars.
There's even been the odd apparent ghostly appearance, more than a few wonderful and weird guest requests and, along the way, the opportunity to meet amazing colleagues who have turned into lifelong friends.
Some of the more vivid memories from Mr Williams' time at the resort include:
when a child began a habit 20 years ago of bringing him an apple after breakfast on her family's annual stays - something she has continued to do into adulthood with her own children;
helping a guest rehearse a marriage proposal to the man she loved and following up after the real thing by giving sparklers to hotel staff who hid in the bushes and came out to surprise the happy couple after the man said "yes"
organising to play a couple's favourite song on their 60th wedding anniversary, encouraging the couple and other guests to dance in the middle of the lobby - a "most beautiful and emotional moment" for all present; and
an unconventional proposal request, where Mr Williams popped the question on behalf of a shy guest. Fortunately the answer was "yes" and the happy couple returned to the resort a year later for the wedding, with Mr Williams being the best man.
Mr Williams has won many individual hospitality industry awards over the years, the most recent being at the 2013 Tourism Accommodation Australia Awards.
Through it all Mr Williams still says "I feel that I owe the resort."
According to the Fairmont Resort's management team: "All Peter's memorable experiences are testament to the important figure he is at the Fairmont Resort.
"He will be sorely missed - it is the end of an era."
Fellow concierges Mick Pepic and the experienced David Whittaker - who has been working at the resort for more than 20 years - will continue to welcome and serve guests at the Fairmont.
