Responding to emergencies, many in the dead of night, was a hallmark of his 30-year career at The Post. There were car and plane crashes, numerous fires and everything in between.

Looking back, it was most likely the Box Brownie that set him off.

READ MORE: The Goulburn Post farewells Darryl Fernance

Growing up in Sydney, he borrowed the camera from his parents to snap photos of a school excursion to Kurnell. A little later, he was struck by images of a bushfire in the Royal National Park around his home, and on Anzac Day, 1968, the Buckinghams building fire as he watched it from the Australian Museum window.

His photography interest continued after coming to Goulburn in 1977 and firstly working with the Commonwealth Employment Service. After submitting publicity shots he had taken for the RFS and SES to The Post, he was offered the senior photographer's role at the newspaper in February, 1989.

"There were lots of interesting stories and photos and I was afforded some great opportunities," the now semi-retired Darryl said.

"We covered a huge range of local sport with the assistance of a larger news team. There were also lots of emergencies and I feel I did suffer post traumatic stress to an extent. Some things will never leave me."

Like the plane crash near Tarago in 1992 that killed five skiers and their pilot en route to the snowfields. The outcome was happier in a separate light plane crash in the same district. They suffered burns but the snow reduced the severity and the pair survived.

ALSO READ: Goulburn Post newspaper building harbours a rich history

Darryl's RFS training equipped him well on the day he was photographing a wedding on Rocky Hill in the mid 1980s.

"I could see it coming in from Breadalbane but luckily the wind changed and it stopped just short of the Goulburn drive-in," he said.

Over the years he forged strong relationships with emergency services. He occasionally photographed crime scenes for police forensics but willingly shared his images with them regardless.

"In newspaper photography there's the good, the bad and the ugly," Darryl said.

"There were lots of fun community and sporting events that I covered."

He chronicled the careers of basketballers like Lauren Jackson and hockey international Glenn Turner, and shivered by cold Cookbundoon sidelines capturing soccer games. Every year, he wore a broad smile as he snapped away at the Blues Festival, Goulburn Show, Lynton Horse Trials, the rodeos and Carols of Hope. On weekends, he lapped up the action at Wakefield Park or the speedway.

ALSO READ: Leon Oberg's Goulburn Post career covers large slice of history

Then there were the famous faces like Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett and Jimmy Barnes performing at the Soldiers Club.

He photographed Prime Minister Bob Hawke and NSW Premier John Fahey, formerly the member for Southern Highlands.

"When he became Premier I asked him what I should call him. He told me to just call him John," Darryl said.

"He was a very humble man and I appreciated him as a person."

Darryl finally called it a day in February, 2019.

ALSO READ: Heart, soul and mind unite in Lyn's photojournalism days

"I regarded news and social photography as recording moments of Goulburn's history," he said.

"It's not just about big events but people's weddings, births and community fixtures and since retiring I still help some of those organisations with photos."

Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.