Rodney Gregg

Katherine NT

Bachelor of Education 1991

UNE Alumnus Rodney Gregg is a Health, Fitness and PE Specialist at Casuarina Street Primary School in Katherine.

Sport has played a huge part in Rodney Gregg’s life professionally and personally;

Rodney’s school, Casuarina Street Primary School, received the Newcombe Medal for Most Outstanding School in 2018 placing it in the top three tennis schools across Australia despite not having any permanent courts at the time. Rodney is on a mission to ensure every child at his school has the opportunity to learn tennis from their earliest years.

"It is a great fundamental motor program where students can learn hand-eye coordination and technique…It is about creating pathways for the students right from transition.

There may be one student who goes on to represent Australia, but they are never going to get there if they don't get the opportunity now."

Rodney has represented the NT at National Athletics Championships.

Here is Rodney Gregg’s story:

Having completed my Dip Teach at ACAE in 1989, I wanted to get my B.Ed as soon as possible, so I studied on campus at UNE and completed the 8 units in 1990 to achieve my goal.

I enjoyed the collegiate life in Austin College, playing lots of sport both for UNE and in Armidale. I found my UNE lecturers to be very helpful and knowledgeable and always approachable. I still think fondly of the time I spent in Armidale, from 1986 to 1990. I saw snow for the first time in my life in 1986. It was truly the best 5 years of my life.

I have been teaching full time in the NT since I arrived here in 1992. I started my career in Kalkaringdji in 1991, moved to Katherine in 1992. Have been here ever since. I did a 5 year stint in Darwin, but my main teaching has been in Katherine. I was head Track Coach for School Sport NT teams for 17 years, taking NT athletes to National competitions, including four Pacific School Games.

2020 is my 30th year of teaching. I have been at my current school since 1999-2001, 2006-present. I was a classroom teacher for 18 years before I was given the Health and PE Specialist role at my school. I teach over 300 students each week from Transition to year 6. It has kept me fit and healthy working with the students and hope this continues into the future.

My plan is to continue teaching for as long as possible. The Territory is a magic place and I recommend it to anyone. Living in the NT is my life; I have a son who was born in the NT, I have taught in remote, rural and urban settings. I continue to thoroughly enjoy the experience.

I’ve been back to Armidale only once in 2016 and retraced all the wonderful places there. I worked at the Wicklow Hotel and at the Newie during my time there.