![KIT RIDES OFF: Illawarra Sports High School teacher Kit Cullen with students. Mr Cullen has retired after 34 years. Picture: Robert Peet KIT RIDES OFF: Illawarra Sports High School teacher Kit Cullen with students. Mr Cullen has retired after 34 years. Picture: Robert Peet](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc6zkrl52m9eailgxy2a0.jpg/r0_0_5184_2926_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Kit Cullen accepted with some “trepidation” his posting to Berkeley High School in 1984.
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On Friday the longest serving English teacher at what is now Illawarra Sports High School, pulls up stumps on a “wonderful” 34-year journey.
“I had 16 schools listed where I would go in the Illawarra and Berkeley was the last one on the list. As luck would have it, when the telegram arrived, it showed I was going to Berkeley,” Mr Cullen.
“But from day one I really enjoyed myself. It is a great school. It is really good.
“I’ve taught two generations of locals. I’ve taught parents, uncles, aunties, brothers, sisters, friends, cousins...lots and lots of people.”
The 59-year-old has seen seven principals and four English head teachers come and go over the last 34 years.
He has also seen plenty of changes.
“When I arrived in 1984 it was chalk and a blackboard. There were no computers. Now the tools of the trade are whiteboards, smart-boards and eBeams,” Mr Cullen said.
The self-described old school teacher, who has never owned a mobile phone, is all for technology but reckons students sometimes get too preoccupied on their phones with their social media.
“In saying that the students at the school are absolutely lovely. They are extremely friendly and by and large will get on with whatever you are asking them to do in the classroom,” he said.
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The Wollongong born and bred teacher and devoted St George Illawarra fan was also very happy to see the school transition to a sports high school.
And, in his role as a strength and conditioning coach, Mr Cullen has played a pivotal role in launching the NRL careers of some of the game’s finest players such as Brett Stewart, Jack Bird and Trent Merrin.
“I had more contact working with people like Brett and Jack Bird. I really enjoyed that experience,” he said.
“The good news is that there is a new wave of future NRL stars going through the school now.”
In retirement Mr Cullen will continue his other passion – research.
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In 2013 he had a WWI military history book Jack’s Journey, published by Allen and Unwin and is now working on a WWII manuscript.
“I’m writing a book about an incident on the Kokoda Track at the moment which I’ll pursue more when I retire,” Mr Cullen said.
“[Wife] Olena and I especially will be doing a lot of travelling as well.
“I also love to read so there will be plenty of reading and watching my footy of course.”