Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 40, September 1996
Well known resident of Waihi, Mr Maurice Cowan, died suddenly at the age of 47 on 6 November 1995. Maurice had lived all his life in Waihi and had done much for his community. His sense of civic duty reached almost every sector of the community but it was to the town's youth that he had dedicated most of his time in recent years.
His political career, which spanned almost 20 years, began in the 1970s and included serving two terms as deputy mayor on the old Waihi Borough Council. He continued in local government through to the new regime, serving as both a Hauraki District councillor and Waihi Community Board member. He was a driving force in setting up the council's waste management strategy on landfills, transfer stations and recycling. He was also the Waihi Community Board representative on the Community Correction's Liaison Committee, whose main function was to follow through the issue of restorative justice.
He retired from local politics to concentrate on his projects for the benefit of the town's youth. He was involved with the Friday night roller skating and both the Land and Sea Scout groups at Waihi and Waihi Beach.
Other organisations and projects Mr Cowan volunteered his time to over the years included: Waihi Beach Coastguard, Waihi College Pool Committee, Drill Hall Replacement Committee, Blue Light scheme, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Waitawheta Camp Society, and Youth Expo. He was also responsible for the construction of the Waihi skate board bowl, was the driving force behind Waihi Volunteer Fire Brigade's fire tanker appeal, fund-raised for local child cancer victims, was a civil defence controller and assisted with many other local projects.
Although retired from politics, he continued to bring to the attention of the public the damage he considered was being done by mining in the town.
Mr Cowan is survived by his wife, Jill and their three children.