Mr Malcolm Alan Walker, of Winton, has been awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for for services to sport and education, in the Queen's Birthday Honours announced today.

Mr Walker has taught in central Southland for more than 35 years, including 23 years as Principal of Limehills School, and has contributed to sport in the wider community. 

He has been a beloved teacher and coach throughout his career, his positive attitude and love for teaching is infectious and, even in retirement, he still coaches sport, chairs local committees and volunteers at Takitimu Primary School to help out in any way he can. 

When asked what the proudest moment of his career was, he said he could not pinpoint just one.

"I guess I just enjoyed it so much, there are so many highlights. Teaching is so special; the kids are all unique."

He said every child had the ability to achieve great things and when they found that strength in themselves, he said it was the most magical thing to see.  

"Sometimes you see that kids that struggle become highly successful, students are different, every day is different. They continually surprise you," he said. 

He credits having the privilege of being surround by "amazing" staff and students to having such a rewarding career. 

"I was lucky I was in an incredible environment where, wherever I went, there were always motivated people all around me, staff and students [both], we were just always on a roll you know."

When asked how he felt to be nominated he replied; "it's just wonderful to be recognised, I still don't know who nominated me, but [that's] actually made it more special. When it happens to you it's quite surreal."

It's been quite hard to keep it a secret because I love to have a yarn.

Born a raised in Dunedin, Mr Walker went to Abbotsford School he then attended Kings High School which he graduated from in 1972.

He went on to study teaching at the then Dunedin training college and began his teaching career at Winton Primary School in 1976. 

A few years later he moved to Limehills Scool where he taught for a couple of years then moved to become principal at Kauana.

"It was a great little school, very tight community and tremendous students"

He was the principal of Limehills School for 23 years before he retired in 2012. 

Still a lover of teaching, he spends many of his days volunteering at Takitimu Primary School where he helps with school camps, Rippa Rugby, in the classroom and on top of that he still coaches Central Western Cricket Club, which he has been helping out at for the last 40 years. 

He also still coaches the cross-country team at Limehills School and said it was "just the best" being able to train the multi-talented students.

"It's quite special getting to work with them, they're just fantastic," he said. 

Mr Walker was chairperson of the regional principal support network and sat on a variety of education-based committees, including the Central Primary Schools' Sports Association.

He was a member of Southland Primary Schools Athletics Committee and has been an athletics coach. He has helped drive fundraising for the Winton Skate Park, the establishment of the Limehills Swimming Pool, and was a foundation member of the Central Southland Squash Club. 

He has chaired the Deep Cove Hostel Trust Education sub-committee. He has coached and organised various Central Southland Rugby, Touch and Basketball club, school and representative teams. 

Mr Walker has represented New Zealand in Masters’ Cricket, playing in the Otago over 60's team. 

"We play very competitively" he laughed. "You'd think when you get to that age it would be quite nice just to survive, but it's very competitive.There's a rivalry between [some of the teams] it's great."

He said receiving the award was a great honour and a big surprise. 

He thanked his family for their continued support and his "awesome staff" who he said he was extremely proud of for not only making his teaching career over the years so successful, but also a great deal of fun.

"Sometimes I think [the staff] carried me through a bit because my technology skills are pretty bad," he joked.