Sgt Falkiner was among 40 officers presented with awards at Midlands Golf Club last Tuesday.

Sgt Falkiner was honoured alongside Ballarat Superintendent Paul Murnane.

The pair began police life together in 1970.

Sgt Falkiner said Supt Murnane had been a fantastic colleague throughout his career.

"We were at Sunshine together and I think Paul was in the CIU there...and I was in the Crime Car Squad so we've known each other for a long time and he's an outstanding leader and always has been."

Supt Murnane said Sgt Falkiner was a tremendous policeman who had forged a fine reputation in the Trentham district.

"The low crime rate in Trentham is thanks to his work over several years. He works well in the community," he said.

Sgt Falkiner said he would stay in the job longer than Supt Murnane, but not by much.

"Time goes by and we've all got to go when we're ready to go and a couple of years down the track and I'll be facing the same dilemma.

"I've made some fantastic friends and been involved in some really interesting incidents, not all of them serious, some of them have been humorous.

"But it's been a great job and one of those jobs that every five minutes of the day is different. There's nothing mundane about it," Sgt Falkiner said. "I guess that's why I've enjoyed it, it's been a challenging and rewarding job,"

he said.