Malcolm Walker, LC Council: 1986 to 1995 --- LC Council Chairman: 1991 to 1995

Malcolm Walker
B.E., C.Eng.,  M.I.E.E., F.I.P.E.N.Z., A.N.Z.I.M.

Malcolm Walker was associated with Lindisfarne College from 1982 – the year in which his eldest son,  James, was enrolled, until 1995.

Malcolm was appointed to the Lindisfarne College Council by the chairman, Mr Callum Kirkpatrick in 1986. He brought a measured, thoughtful, intelligent, and solicitous  approach to his role on the  Council,  with the result that in 1990 he was appointed as Chairman.  A role to which he brought, a strong  business acumen along with a sincere, rational, and indeed  dignified  and  candid approach,  as he tackled  the  issues and challenges,  associated with the importance of  such a position.

Malcolm`s gift of lateral thinking and the wisdom associated with that, honed and perfected through his role in Senior Management of one of the largest Corporations in Hawkes Bay, meant that with his diligent attention to detail, along with his meticulous approach to all the relevant issues of the day, ensured that through his leadership, the College would indeed, successfully, go through one of its most progressive decades.

It was during his time as Chairman,  that the College experienced a period of real  development, which triggered off an  extraordinary period of advancement, right across the board, from academic and  pastoral to sport and culture which enriched the College and firmly established all the positive advances that were achieved during those  vital, pre-Integration years.

Advances achieved by a man who had a clear vision of how he wanted the College to progress and who possessed the quiet determination, the thoughts and ideals so necessary to fulfill this vision.

Without fail, his initiatives were followed by growth and development, often unexpected by either his own Council or the Staff,  and even the parents.

In 1990 two new Toyota  mini buses were purchased to replace the old and rather weathered and outdated Ford and Austin transporters.  Before the Toyotas were to take to the road, Malcolm insisted that appropriate advertising, featuring the four cornerstones and with the Lindisfarne College name  proudly displayed, right across both sides of the vehicles ---and the  rear doors as well, should be completed. The buses, as they cruised through Havelock North signaled  ``here we are  – come along if you want``

Four further buses were purchased  two years later,  complete with Malcolm`s colourful signature advertising,   this time carrying the message  into places as far distant as Moteo and Black Barn.

In the mid 1990s, a Council proposal to construct two classrooms,was taken on board by its Chairman.  Malcolm`s fertile mind saw the possibility of converting the ``Dayboy  Wash`` which consisted of toilets, showers and lockers,  into these two newly proposed classrooms, which would become the Intermediate Department, right in the heart of the learning and teaching environment    His keen eye then envisaged that by constructing a second storey on top of this, and continuing that construction to link up with the double storeyed  Mouat Block,  that the  Lindisfarne boys and their teachers would  indeed, now possess five brand new classrooms and not the two originally intended.

All this was done without architects or draftsmen, as often was the norm in the 1980s.  Morgan Builders worked with the Chairman and the Building committee to plan and design the rooms and layout, and to subsequently build them. Such a process maybe, could be referred to as practical lateral thinking something at which the Chairman was extremely adept.

One of Malcolm`s real triumphs, was the purchase of nearby land across Lyndhurst Road, in order to extend the playing and recreation areas of the College.  He knew of a 1.2 hectare block at the rear of the Seven Oaks Home just across from the Rector`s residence driveway.  This was a block of land known as Little Oaks which had remained fallow for years. It was going at a bargain price.   Malcolm quickly made an offer which was accepted by the owner.  The single rugby field that eventuated from this, became affectionately known as ``The Farne`` and was just across Lyndhurst Road and very convenient to reach. It was used extensively for practice and Saturday morning rugby.

Two years later, plans by this same owner to expand Seven Oaks into the  Gracelands Retirement Village as we know it today,  were thwarted by Lindisfarne`s rugby field. The owner had previously purchased 8.3 hectares just along Lyndhurst Road. He offered the College Council a deal, whereby the owner would swap his 8.3 hectares for the 1.2 hectares that LIndisfarne owned. The deal was done and ``The Farne`` playing fields came into existence.   Malcolm as a final thought was heard to say, ``Well,  if we need to sell it, the value will have gone through the roof.``   

Another example of Malcolm`s eye for an opportunity was the construction of the new kitchen/ laundry that would adjoin the Dining Hall,  on its southern side, in an area where the clothes` lines and refuse bins were positioned at the time. 

The old kitchen/laundry, which was located within the precincts of the Homestead was converted into a Staff Dining room and study area with lockers and extensive working space for staff. With all this construction going on Malcolm was often  asked by representatives of the other three Private Schools in the area, the rhetorical question ------ how was all this possible in such a small school,  how was it financed, how was it done?

Possibly, Malcolm`s most lasting innovation was the introduction of the LIndisfarne College Business Plan.    Using his experience in Senior Management, he was in the perfect position to effectively introduce, into the current ethos of the College, this comprehensive action plan for the future.    The fact that he spent hours of his own time to arrange and hold meetings with the Rector and senior staff in order to ensure the success of his Business Plan,  speaks volumes for his dedication and commitment to his position as Chairman. Such was the vision of this entire innovation  that Malcolm`s word`s were.----- ``this will carry the College onwards and into the 21st Century.``.

The Business Plan reviewed all aspects of Lindisfarne life.   He formulated the questionnaire which all parents were invited to complete, opening up lines of communication, which were not previously in existence.  The ideas gained from the questionnaire,  enabled Malcolm and his Council to initially  improve the lot of both day boys and the junior boarders.

The Pines building  was completed alongside the old Gym and was a welcome innovation,  appreciated by dayboys and their parents,  as it consisted of a common room and locker space for senior boys.

One must always keep in mind that the construction of all these buildings was done prior to Integration. The wherewithal to build,  came from careful management, saving, wisdom and the adherence to a Business Plan which was serving  the College well.

Junior boarders were the next to benefit from an off shoot of the Business Plan and its questionnaires,  with the construction of the D.W. Storkey  Hostel,  A modern  comfortable  Boarding Villa very close to the core of the College. 

Malcolm had this to say in his final Chairman`s  report  at the annual Prizegiving  in 1995:

Lindisfarne College is a very special place and I know that I will always look back on my association with it with the warmest of memories.

The final word must go to his son Humphrey:``Lindisfarne always had a special place in his heart,  and even though he was a proud Old Boy of Christchurch Boys` High School,  he always said that he felt like an Old Boy of Lindisfarne as well.`` 

Thank you Malcolm

W.G. Smith  2/4/2022