Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 36, September 1992
Paeroa Historical Society member, Elsie Mann was the first person to receive the Hauraki District Council Citizenship Award. She received this honour for her 50 years work in the community. The award was presented by Mayor Basil Morrison at a special dinner held in November 1991 for Miss Mann and attended by 140 people.
She was also made a life member of the Hauraki District Scout Association and Waikato Scouting area. National Scout President, Bruce Scott presented Life Membership of Dominion Life. Miss Mann founded the Waikino Cub pack in 1941, and also began packs in Waihi and Whangamata. All nine original members of the Waikino pack were at the function, presenting Miss Mann with a leather wall hanging, embossed with the Scout's prayer.
Miss Mann has been involved with cub packs at Paeroa and now Kerepehi during her lengthy period of service. In 1975 Miss Mann moved to Kerepehi and immediately started a cub pack and soon became District Cub Leader, a position she holds today.
For her services to Scouting Miss Mann has received the Medal of Merit in 1958; Bar to the Medal of Merit in 1963; the Silver Tiki in 1970 and the highest service award in Scouting, the Silver Tui, in 1990.
She was a well known postmistress until her retirement in 1984, after which she maintained her interest in Cubbing and the community, including her church and Sunday School, hospital visiting both in Thames and Paeroa, Women's division, Meals on Wheels, Paeroa Museum, the Oasis Room and Red Cross.
Hauraki District Mayor, Basil Morrison, in presenting Miss Mann with the Hauraki District Citizenship Award, noted that she had served the Scouting movement and the community in the District's three wards, Waihi, Paeroa and the Plains. He said this was the first award made by the Council and it could not have gone to a more deserving person.
Hauraki District Scout patron, Percy Cubitt, handed Miss Mann the keys to the District, a set of three large wrought iron keys on a large ring, while former District Commissioner and now a member of Scout Headquarters staff, Lawrence Gleadow, a bound visitor's book.
Earlier that day there had been a special Cub day held on the Waikino Domain. There was a good attendance of Cubs, present and past, together with parents and friends.