John Walker Knighted

Olympic athlete and sports administrator John Walker has received a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday honours.

Sir John (pictured above) was made a Knight Companion for services to sport and the community.

Aged 57, Walker, competed internationally for 19 years, set three world records and won gold in the 1500 metres at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, was a 1500 metre silver medallist and 800 metre bronze medallist at the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games and 1500 metre silver medallist at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Walker was New Zealand Sportsperson of the year in 1975 and 1976, voted New Zealand Sportsperson of the decade 1970-79 and was joint winner with Sir Richard Hadlee of New Zealand Sportsperson for the 25 years 1963 to 1987. He was a foundation inductee into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He received a New Zealand 1990 medal and in 1995 the IOC presented him with the Olympic Bronze Order. Walker was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame again in 2005 as a member of the New Zealand cross country team that won the world title in Morocco in 1975.

He received the OBE in the 1976 New Year's honours and the CBE in the 1992 Queen's Birthday honours.

Walker is a former member of the New Zealand Sports Foundation Board of Governors, chaired the athletes commission of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, which included redrafting the contract which govern the relationship between the Olympic Committee and team members, and was Chief Barker and President of the Variety Club of New Zealand.

Last year Walker, a fourth term Manukau City Councillor, founded 'Find your Field of Dreams Foundation' a charitable trust aimed at encouraging the young people of Manukau to pursue a more active lifestyle through sport and physical recreation that would lead to a fitter, healthier and more caring community.

In the course of a long career Walker has provided inspiration to many young New Zealanders and has been an exceptional ambassador for New Zealand particularly while overseas, he has always acted in what he believed to be the best interests of New Zealand sport and has given much time and energy in the pursuit of better sporting opportunities for all New Zealanders.

Alec McNab of Wanganui received the Queen's Service Medal for services to sport. McNab is the director of sport at Wanganui Collegiate School and has been heavily involved with athletics and the Wanganui Club for many years as a coach, official and administrator. He was awarded an Athletics New Zealand Merit Award in 2002.

3rd April 2009 - FREE SPORT AND RECREATION FOR MANUKAU YOUTH

24th October 2008 - MANUKAU LEISURE PERFORMS AHEAD OF BUDGET