But now it's time for the Rutherford paramedic to call it a day and begin a new chapter. He will start his last shift on Friday night.

Mr Lovett came into the job at a time when paramedics had limited tools to treat patients.

"When I first started we had a basic oxy-viva, laughing gas and not much more," Mr Lovett said.

"Laughing gas was the only analgesic agent we had for people with broken legs and things like that.

Mr Lovett completed his probationary training in Singleton. He worked at Cessnock and Birmingham Gardens ambulance stations before he came to Rutherford Ambulance Station in 1990.

"I had some friends in the service at that time and they encouraged me to join because it was a very good job. I was looking forward to looking after people," he said.

"I enjoy the unknown aspect of the job, you never know what will arise during your shift - every day is different."

Mr Lovett became a rescue paramedic 27 years ago and that role has seen him respond to a wide range of incidents including major accidents.

"The training to become a paramedic rescue operator is challenging in itself. Some of the scenes I have gone to over the years have been very challenging like car accidents and other accidents," he said.

"You learn to control your emotions and focus on what you need to do. You try not to get emotionally involved in what you are doing in regards to patient care and looking after people."

Mr Lovett was one of the first paramedics to arrive on scene at the workers club after the Newcastle Earthquake in 1989.

"When I was young I did a lot of socialising there, so it was rather surreal going in there and seeing daylight where there should not have been daylight and hearing people screaming," he said.

"I was there for quite a few hours helping people. I was taken aback by it all, you don't expect that sort of thing to happen, especially somewhere that you frequent."

Mr Lovett will now spend more time playing golf and travelling.

"I'm a regular traveller to Bali, we've got plans to travel to England next year and I've already organised plans to go to The Presidents Cup in Melbourne this year," he said.

"I'm looking forward to it because I've been working since I was 17 or 18. It's a long time, it's time to down tools."