Renee Cullen: grabbing hold of the dream

‘One team, one dream’ – that’s the motto that keeps Client Services Assistant Renee Cullen motivated as she greets each hectic day in the Fraser Coast office. As ‘go-to’ admin leader for the office and the unofficial Fusedocs champion, Renee thrives on being able to support her team, as well as Ulton’s local clients. “Day-to-day, it’s about making sure all our work flows in and out,” she says. One of the things Renee loves most about Ulton is the opportunity to learn about so many different areas of the business, from audit, through to wealth management and business services.

However, it’s working with clients that brings a great sense of fulfilment – working with people has always been a major part of her career. Prior to joining the Ulton team, Renee worked as a manager at Woolworths, stepping into various roles. Her time in retail taught her to go with the flow in an ever-changing environment. Taking a leap of faith, Renee joined the Ulton administration team armed with minimal experience and a determination to give it her best. Six years on, Renee is now sharing her skills and experience with new starters and relishing the challenges and opportunities life at Ulton brings.

The strength of the team and the friendships formed have helped maintain Renee’s ‘one team one dream’ momentum. The supportive friendships Renee has found in the Ulton team extend outside the office, too. Renee spends most Saturday mornings at Park Run with Bronson Aukaha – and kept at it even when he ventured away from the Ulton team. Of course, he was only gone briefly – like so many others, he became part of the ‘boomerang crew’ and ended up back in the fold. Away from work, family is the biggest joy in Renee’s life. “I’m just a person who absolutely loves her two boys,” she says fondly, speaking of her husband Scott and son Hunter, 19. Renee enjoys a close relationship with Hunter, who she says is honest, reliable and a bit of a jokester: “Hunter would say our two dogs, Race and Hemi, are my pride and joy and that he comes in last!”

Hunter has recently followed his tiler dad into the tradie field, taking on a carpentry apprenticeship. While Renee’s career only shifted to the finance sector recently, she and Scott have made a point of raising Hunter with a sense of purpose when it comes to finances. “We opened a bank account for him when he was a little boy, and whenever he received money we gave him the option of putting everything into savings, or keeping half to spend.” Hunter was a keen study, and observed how his parents managed their finances carefully to pay off their home early. “At 19, he’s almost ready to buy his first home,” Renee says with pride. “All the hard work and beans on toast does pay off, but then you’ve got more work to keep it. Every boy has a hiccup and spends a bit of money he shouldn’t, but he’s learnt from that.”

Outside the office, Renee loves to leave the paperwork behind and get out on the water with, Scott, Hunter, and his girlfriend. By her own admission, Renee and Scott are “keen, but not very good” when it comes to landing fish, but that’s not what it’s all about. Their family love loading up the boat and heading over to K’Gari, where they’ve found their secret spot. Having grown up in Sydney, Renee doesn’t take the beauty of the Fraser Coast region for granted. “It’s such a pretty part of the world. I can understand why people come here to retire.”

Never one to say no to a challenge, Renee is well-known in the Fraser Coast office for taking on new adventures. She’s taken part in a 55km walk for the Fred Hollows Foundation and the 35km Bloody Long Walk, as well as mud run challenges like Miss Muddy and True Grit. “My cousin just said ‘let’s do it’, so I did!”, Renee says in explanation of how she found herself as one of the last two of her team standing on her 55km walk. In an example of determination, after completing the 55kms, two days later Renee threw herself into a 5km mud run. This determination and drive to make a difference is something that she’s introduced to the office culture, too. Last March, Renee encouraged the team to walk for childhood cancer, raising over $1000 and walking well over 150km as a team.

As well as the fundraising aspects, Renee enjoys the benefits regular exercise brings her physical and mental health. “I’m able to do more things, like heading out on hikes and not being exhausted by the end of it!”

Given Renee and Scott are focused on travelling to see as much of Australia as possible, being able to get out and enjoy hikes is a key motivator. “There’s so many beautiful places in this country. Australia has a lot to offer, and I feel it’s overlooked by Australians – too many people just head overseas.”

Last year, the couple spent a whirlwind 11 days travelling Tasmania. “I’d go back in a heartbeat,” Renee says. “Cradle Mountain was my favourite.” This year’s adventure was South Australia, up to the Nullabor and back along the Great Ocean Road. Renee and the family fell in love with Coober Pedy, staying in the famous underground hotels and exploring the vastness of the area – “I loved the isolation – though sleeping underground was a bit strange to start with!”

Their next trip is to outback New South Wales, travelling to Lightning Ridge and following their family’s heritage. “My Pop owned a pub in Gilgandra, so we’re going to go and have a look. It’s nice to go visit the towns that great great grandparents are from, and to see what it’s like.” Setting up a roof-top tent on the new Ranger and heading up to Cape York is also high on the agenda.

But before then, there’s another major event to enjoy. Renee is known around the office as a bit of a Christmas elf. “I’ve been banned from buying more this year,” she laughs, “But that won’t stop me!” For Renee, she loves the traditions of decorating the tree, spending time with family, and just soaking up the excitement and the feeling Christmas brings. Despite Hunter being well beyond the age of believing and a less-than-willing participant, Renee still looks forward to putting out carrots for the reindeer, hanging stockings, and popping something under the tree from Santa. This year, the family will travel down to Renee’s hometown of Sydney to spend time with family and friends.

With her enthusiasm for getting out there and giving it a go, we’re excited to see what Renee’s ‘one team one dream’ approach brings for Ulton. Until then, we’ll settle for celebrating Christmas together with one of her favourites – a traditional margarita!