Back in 1973 John McClea started working at the Meat Emporium on Hobart’s eastern shore, and purchased the butcher shop two years later.

John says life is all about timing and the purchase of the shop coincided with part of the Tasman bridge being toppled over by an iron ore carrier.

The lack of a bridge meant workers on the eastern shore had to catch a ferry to work just around the corner from John’s shop.

He says every morning a big line-up of customers would place their orders and collect the meat on their way home, sometimes not till 9 o’clock at night.

John says that busy period set him up and he’s loved every minute of life as a butcher.

John McClea says he will miss his customers the most and is looking forward to coming back on certain days to work the shop.

For the time being John has to fight a health battle after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

He says he will be fine and is looking forward to seeing more of the world and doing some more boating.