After about 15 years, Mr Wallace (71) is standing down as secretary after this week’s South Island and New Zealand sheep dog trial championships in South Otago.
Having retired from physical farming and now living in Wānakawith his wife Linda, Mr Wallace said the time was right, although he would "still be around".
Brought up in Balclutha, Mr Wallace had an uncle farming at Kakapuaka and he used to love going out there as a child. His father said he could not leave school until he had a job, so he joined J R Murray Ltd, where he did his mechanic apprenticeship.
From there, he worked in the parts department at Clutha Motors and was then offered a job selling tyres as a resident agent for Dunlop Tyres.
After about seven years, his father-in-law Wick McKenzie — whom he had been helping on his farm, which included a Border Leicester sheep stud — died and he continued to help his mother-in-law.
An opportunity later arose to manage a property and his farming career was launched; most latterly farming at Taumata, not far from the dog trial grounds.
His secretarial duties for the championships began in earnest after Christmas with a sponsorship drive and then taking entries.
Once the entries were received, he and his wife spent about a week putting the draw together.
Mr Wallace loved his involvement with the dog trialling fraternity, saying he "wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy it".
