Mr Myers had his last day at the campus on Thursday, June 23 where he was farewelled by staff and students. 

Starting his career as an apprentice at the state dockyards in Newcastle, John later enrolled at Glendale TAFE to complete his pressure welding tickets. While there, John was offered a part-time teaching position. 

That led to him being offered a full-time position at the Kempsey campus where he started in February of 1983 after he and his wife Sue relocated from Newcastle.   

“The original idea was to come here for a year or two but 33 and a half years later we’re still here,” he said. 

“I think we’ve just enjoyed the lifestyle and once we made friends here and settled.”

Reflecting, Mr Myers said the most rewarding part has been seeing his students progress. 

“Seeing them go through and mature and gain employment and start their own businesses. Just the way we’ve changed lives with apprenticeships. Giving unemployed people their confidence back and seeing them realise their worth,” he said. 

“Often we get people who may not excel at school and then when they find something they’re passionate about we find there’s a big change.

“Your part of the ‘hidden curriculum’ I suppose. Your teaching them other life skills along the way.” 

Over the years, John says the campus has gone from strength to strength. 

“When I first started we had a very small workshop, now our department is much bigger,” he said. 

“Also the take up of apprentices. We only taught stage one originally. Now we teach all three.” 

Mr Myers says he is “extremely worried” about the future of TAFE.

“It needs to be continually funded and I just don’t think the current government is funding it properly at the moment,” he said. 

“Governments of all persuasions are short sighted when they do things to save a little bit of money and not realise the end result.”  

He paid credit to fellow teachers Lloyd Ray, John Thompson and Richard Griffiths and former teacher Dave Rouse for their continued support.

He is looking forward to spending time with his family – his wife, two daughters and five grandkids and getting back into his hobby of powerlifting.