Mr Montague served all over Queensland with stints everywhere from Mareeba to Bedourie and Thursday Island.

"I started in Mareeba forty years ago after completing police academy in Brisbane," Mr Montague said.

"Basically I was out of work and I was walking down the street and I saw a recruiting sign for police and took home a brochure and the rest was history.

"From there I ended up working in investigations and then as a police prosecutor."

Mr Montague said working on natural disasters would be his most vivid memory.

"The North West floods of last year will probably stand out the most, I went to Julia Creek for three weeks and it was very full on. Cyclone Yasi in 2011 would have to be a close second," he said.

"The best thing about being a police officer is that it gives you a great opportunity to see your country. It's a bit of a myth that you have to stay where you are first stationed. I moved around a bit and was able to see a huge part of Queensland."

But Mr Montague said he would miss his work colleagues.

"I'll miss the friends that I made over the years and the organisation," he said.

"One thing I won't miss is shift work, being on call and all the paperwork. We all thought once email and the internet came through that the paperwork would come down but it really hasn't.

"Now it's time to go fishing and play lots of golf. Hopefully soon New Zealand opens up and we can head overseas."

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