Come next Tuesday, Old Bar Service Centre will have new owners and Milton will be throwing a line into the Manning River.

After a grueling 28 years of working seven day weeks, Milton is ready for some R and R.

"I'm going to enjoy the time off that's owed to me," he laughs.

Because despite living so close to the ocean, Milton can't remember the last time he went to the beach.

He's also served so many fishermen over the years and not had the chance to go fishing.

"It's now my turn to catch the big ones," he said.

Milton, who originally hails from Croatia, said he and his wife Jadranka are most looking forward to spending time with their grown-up children.

"The only time I really got to see the kids was when they came to work with me," he admits.

And although he has some interesting stories to tell, including one incident when his daughter patched a punctured tyre when she was just a toddler, it is now time for some new memories for the Dabelic family. "I'm going to check out the Manning Valley," he declares.

Asked if he plans to move further afield he's quick to respond.

"I'm not going anywhere."