It’s the end of an era for Home and Away fans – Irene Roberts is on her way out of Summer Bay after more than three decades. But Lynne McGranger was almost relieved to leave.

For more than three decades she’s been the rock of Summer Bay – a surrogate mum to countless lost souls and a pillar of strength through some of Home And Away’s toughest storylines.

But after almost 34 years, Irene Roberts is finally saying goodbye. Now, actress Lynne McGranger, 73, who has played the Aussie soap’s longest-serving matriarch since October 1991, says she was “relieved” her tenure on the Aussie soap has drawn to an end.

“I originally had the job for three months as guest cast and then for a year,” she first remembers. “Then they asked if I would like another two years and it just kept on going.”

What began as a temporary stint turned into a career-defining role, one that has seen the character battle addictions, heartbreak, breast cancer and, most recently, Alzheimer’s disease.

In the storyline, Irene is confronted with her declining memory and forced into a life-changing decision – to sell up, pack her bags and leave Summer Bay to travel the world.

This week, Irene only has a handful of days to put her plan into action. And Lynne says the off-screen demands were just as gruelling. “The storyline was so consuming and so full on,” says Lynne.

“I was doing 13-14 hour days, it was exhausting. Because of the circumstances, I was relieved when it was over. The storyline was so intense I didn’t really have time to grieve.”

Across the years, Irene has endured some of the show’s heaviest plots. One of the most personal came in 2011, when Irene was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The story mirrored a real-life battle close to Lynne’s heart. “My best friend, who lives in York, her daughter Nicky had been diagnosed at the same time,” Lynne says. “She fought valiantly for about 10 years but sadly lost her fight when she was about 50.”

Although Irene’s exit aired in Australia last month, Lynne has no intention of cutting ties for good. She’s still in touch with some of the Home And Away team.

“I am catching up with Ada (Nicodemou) and James (Stewart) in a couple of weeks. I’m always at the network’s morning show, Sunrise , which is in the same studio, so I stick my head in, and always see someone.”

“There is a lot to miss,” says Lynne. But like her character, she knows the value of resilience and keeps herself busy. The actress gave up smoking 20 years ago and she’s since traded the habit for fitness and grounding walks.

“I like to exercise, and I like to walk so I have a group of friends that I do fitness with,” she says. “Walking and exercising in general are the things that keep me sane. But I also enjoy reading and listening to podcasts, and hanging at home with the family.”

And on the work front, she won’t be sitting still for too long. “I am currently touring our show The Grandparent’s Club around Australia. When I finish the tour mid-October, I am off overseas to do some appearances in Ireland and Norway – and maybe London!

After that I am back home, and we will see what happens after that,” she says. It’s the end of an era, and we can’t wait to find out what’s in store next.