After more than twenty years in politics Wiradjuri woman Linda Burney had butterflies in her tummy after .
When Burney walked onto the floor of the NSW Lower House in 2003 she was the first Aboriginal person to have been elected to parliament in that state.
She quickly moved up the ranks of the tough-as-nails NSW Labor Party and two years later she was appointed to the ministry, where her portfolio responsibilities came to include fair trading, youth, volunteering, community services and women.
"When I was the minister for community services in NSW you saw things of that portfolio you could never unsee, never," Ms Burney told NITV.
"But I tell you what, it developed compassion.
"It developed in me a great understanding of the breadth of life in this country."
A former teacher and high-level public servant, Burney, 67, was born in the small NSW Riverina town of Whitton in a time when this country "knew how many sheep there were but not how many Aboriginal people", as she said in her in federal parliament.
On that day in 2016, the sounds of Wiradjuri song welcomed her to the chamber.
"Imagine what it was like for a 13-year-old Aboriginal girl in a school classroom, being taught that her ancestors were the closest thing to stone age man on earth and struggling with your identity," Burney said in her address.
Thank you, Minister
Messages of gratitude, respect and love for Burney have been flooding social media, including from First Nations people and organisations.
described Ms Burney as "an inspiring trailblazer who has been a tireless and courageous leader for First Nations peoples for decades.
“As an Indigenous woman, despite facing discrimination and hardship, she has broken through so many barriers and achieved many extraordinary ‘firsts’ ... " Commissioner Kiss said.
“In doing so she has made the road easier for the next generation of young Black women leaders following in her wake."
Antoinette Braybrook, from First Nations women's organisation Djirra, also praised Ms Burney as a trailblazer.
"You can’t be what you can’t see. Linda has – and will continue – to prove that every First Nations person, especially our women and girls, can be and do anything we set our minds and hearts to," she posted.
"Minister – thank you."
Shadow Minister for Human Services Linda Burney arrives to make her maiden speech in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra Source: AAP / AAP/Mick Tsikas
But it's also the 'little things' that will stay with her.
"The young Aboriginal girl that writes to you and says, 'something you said changed my life'," she said.
"I've had so many people come up to me and just say, 'you're ours' - and that's pretty nice."
Announcing her retirement Burney said it was time to pass the baton.
"I've seen a younger generation of Aboriginal people, particularly through the referendum, who are ready to take their places in the world, who are taking their places in the world," she said.
"And I've always felt it very important to recognise that we stand on the shoulders of giants.
"They stand on the shoulders of others, and I want to be those shoulders into the future."
