Thirty years after dispatching the final telegram sent from the Dunedin Post Office telegraph branch, she revisited the moment courtesy of the Otago Daily Times photograph taken that day.
"I was volunteered to be in the photo, I think — I don’t quite remember how that happened," she said yesterday at a reunion of former staff.
"I was as nervous as hell — it was probably full of mistakes."
That final message was a farewell telegram from Dunedin branch to the remaining telegraph branches.
Ms Cullen had worked in the telegraph branch for 12 years before advancing technology brought an end to the department.
"It was a really sad day, but it was a great experience."
"That’s not too bad at all, given that a lot would have passed away," she said.
"We have stuck together all these years and we often meet up just for a meal or whatever, but for this people have come from Wellington, Christchurch and all sorts of places."
Working at the telegraph office was like being in one big happy family, Mrs Johnson said.
"It was a combination of a good job and liking the people, I think — everyone kept an eye on each other and we were looked after very well, and we have just stuck together."
