But now, the lad from Tumbarumba who once dreamed of being a cowboy has decided to call time on his career of more than 50 years as a livestock agent.

Remarkably Mr Bradley, who celebrates his 88^th birthday on Friday, worked for just one employer - RH Blake and Co - during his lengthy career.

"It's time to hang up the boots. I'll miss doing what I used to do with the stock and the people," he said.

"I dealt with both sheep and cattle, but I love the cattle. I've been a cattleman all my life. I used to go into the mountains with Dad at home when I was little."

Mr Bradley - easily recognised in his trademark Snowy River-style hat - came into his career almost by accident.

He and his wife Kath had moved from their childhood home town of Tumbarumba to the Ladysmith area.

After initially working as managers on one property, the Bradleys went on to lease one of their own and bought a truck to carry their own stock around.

While at Wagga's livestock selling centre, Mr Bradley was offered some regular work by Blake and Co.

"So I worked with them on Mondays and Thursdays when I could, but then one of the young fellas they had working for them left and Dick Blake said 'what about being permanent with us, every Monday and every Thursday and a bit of other work - you can go round a few clients'," Mr Bradley said.

"Well it sort of blossomed from there, with a bit more and a bit more and a bit less at home and a bit less at home."

The Bradleys spent about 14 years at Ladysmith, at first on a leased property and then on one they owned, before moving to Carabost.

"Dick gave me a car to get around the clients and we did that for 30-odd years," Mr Bradley said.

The Bradleys have two sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

He may be retiring from work, but Mr Bradley says he will still be a regular at the annual Tumbarumba rodeo. He has missed attending the annual event just once since it began in the 1940s.