The outgoing Greater Hume councillor hadn't reviewed its contents since the box was returned to her by the Museum of Australian Democracy a few years ago.

"My life in local government was depicted over about seven years, with different exhibits being rotated," Cr Knight said.

"The person who interviewed me for the exhibition asked if I had any memorabilia, and I said 'I've got so much, I think I'm a hoarder', and she said, 'No, you're an archivist'.

"There was a beautiful plate the community gave me when Hume Shire was abolished, a 'Hands off Hume' T-shirt, and a swim ring I wore when we were trying to raise money for the [2009] bushfires in Victoria - I killed myself laughing when I saw that come out.

"There was a speech by Kevin Rudd that he signed. It was the first time any Prime Minister had invited every mayor across Australia to Parliament, to sit in on the Cabinet meeting."

That historic gathering in 2008 was a moment to remember, for somebody who loves politics.

Cr Knight and her husband of 18 months, Peter, often switch between Australian and American politics during a day spent at home.

It was former state Labor member for Albury, Harold Mair, who prompted her to join Hume Shire council.

"He approached me to run for pre-selection for Labor, and then somebody else approached me to run for pre-selection for the Libs - but I've always been an independent person," Cr Knight said.

"I favour Labor more than Libs, but that's just my social welfare background.

"In 1985 I ran in a by-election and I was not successful, I was successful the next time I ran."

Cr Knight was elected to Hume Shire in 1987, and was mayor when a proposal to absorb parts of Hume into Albury council in the early 2000s spurred a community campaign.

"There was an election happening, so we used that opportunity to do a vote, and 97 per cent of the respondents said 'no'," she said.

"As much as some people could see the benefits of Hume Shire going to Albury, I never could, I still can't.

"We look at different issues, we really do. I'd been on council at that time for quite a few years, and I'd never had anything to do with an airport."

Councillor Tony Quinn was deputy mayor to Cr Knight, with the campaign drawing out thousands of residents to a series of forums.

"We worked pretty well together for a long time in the Hume Shire," Cr Quinn said.

"I was only speaking to a fella the other day; he remembered those fighting days, he said, 'I remember you, you wanted to keep us out of Albury'.

"Hume Shire was a very thriving shire, very well off ... Thurgoona Park would have brought in a lot of revenue.

"I think there was a lot of angst, but people tend to move on."

The Hume Shire did cease to exist from 2004, when it joined the Holbrook and Culcairn shires to become Greater Hume, "with some teething problems".

Cr Knight was reinstated as mayor in 2006, and remained so until 2012, when her then-husband Barry Osborne died of cancer.

"He and I had always planned we would be touring Australia after I retired from work and council, but after his death, I stayed on both with council and employment," she said.

Working as a public housing support officer, Cr Knight watched in awe as people turned their "traumatic" lives around.

"Some were [in their situation] from bad judgement, some from mental health issues or drug addictions, and anybody could be homeless tomorrow," she said.

"One murderer I worked with ... he had gotten into an argument drunk and swung punches, and they said it was with intent, so he went to jail.

"He had a very successful tenancy, they gave him a good reference, and he got in touch while he was here with his children and ex-wife; he ended up going back to Sydney and getting to know his family all over again.

"That was the most rewarding job; to see people's lives turned around. Some didn't, of course."

What was originally a one-year contract turned into a 14-year career.

In that time, Cr Knight was a board member of Local Government NSW, delegate to NSW Rural Fire Service liaison committees and filled director and chair roles with six organisations, from Murray Arts to ATEL.

Receiving the Inaugural Award for Women in Local Government - Elected Representative Rural Council in 2008 was a proud moment, for a woman who was once told she should be caring for her children instead of running for the local council.

In recent years, the only issue close to "Hands Off Hume" in its emotionality has been large-scale solar proposals.

Tensions have emerged both on and off council, but Cr Knight sees that angst settling in coming years.

"I don't think that will be long-term; it can't be. The amalgamation created a rift," she said.

"People move on, whatever the reality is. The people who wanted it, will go, 'Why did you fight so hard?', and the people who didn't want it will say, 'How come we were made to have this?'

"I do believe in some of the cases the impact on neighbours can be reduced.

"It's going to be interesting, with so many propositions in our shire, whether the government will say 'yay' or 'nay' to any, or all.

"There will always be bureaucracy ... but it's the impact and knowledge of local people, that should tell the story."

Cr Knight believes "as long as people keep talking" and being involved, Jindera will keep its community feel as the area grows.

"The Jindera community is amazing - I know people say that about anywhere they live ... but it's been very, very kind to me and my family," she said.

"I was so lucky to take part in so much."

After 37 years, the now-great-grandmother is excited to start fresh in Paynesville with Peter, who she met in 2015.

"We've got a new life ahead of us; mum moved in last October, and to me this [moving] is the next step," she said.

"We were looking at the NSW coast; mum sailed for 12 years and we know how much she would like to be on the water, and Peter lived on a houseboat.

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"Then we looked at Lakes Entrance, and found this beautiful block with a lagoon out the back. It's absolutely magic.

"Pete will play golf, and one of the fellas from the brigade has given me a bird book because of our lagoon - I'll take up bird watching.

"We've promised each other we won't ever go to an annual general meeting."

Cr Knight's tenure as a Greater Hume councillor will end on August 20.