But, that didn't stop 24 former switchboard operators - who worked at telephone exchanges at Muswellbrook, Denman, Scone, Aberdeen and Merriwa - from meeting at the weekend to reminisce and catch up.

In fact, the group celebrated its 35th reunion at the Muswellbrook RSL Club on Saturday night - an acknowledgement of the strong bond the Upper Hunter women enjoyed during their time in the workforce.

"I loved my job," said one of the organisers, Denise Rankin.

"And, I think it was because of the contact we had with other people.

"You could pick the local numbers, so you knew who was calling and could have a quick chat to them.

"The ladies I worked with were terrific, too.

"The girls met a decade ago - to commemorate the 25th anniversary in 2009 - and, once more, five years later.

"Everyone just wanted to do it again.

"It's nice to talk about the good old days while we still can."

The first telephone exchange in Muswellbrook opened in July 1908 and trunk lines became available by 1913.

The local facility initially operated from the post office, however a new premises was built behind that location.

Mrs Rankin started at the Muswellbrook site in 1960, only leaving in 1971 when she gave birth to her first child, Deidre.

"I did some casual hours afterwards," she said.

"In those days, you didn't really work when you had children.

"But, when I was a supervisor in 1967, we boasted a staff of 23 girls, as well as casuals and two monitors.

"I remember there were two different lines - the local switchboard and the trunk lines.

"If the person calling needed to be connected to someone in Sydney or Melbourne, they would have to call and ask to be put through to the trunk line.

"They'd then have to wait for the girl on the trunk line to answer and put them through.

"It's so different now; everyone has a mobile or an iPhone or a device like it."

The Denman, Scone, Aberdeen and Merriwa exchanges eventually closed when automatic systems were introduced.

Many of those female employees then took up positions at Muswellbrook, which shut its doors in 1984.