Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 43, September 1999
The death occurred on 9 December 1998 of Noeline Phyllis Reid after a long period of ill health. Noeline was born in Auckland, the daughter of Verah and Gordon Hirst, but grew up at Te Poi, near Matamata. After leaving school she was Post Mistress at Te Poi for eight years and also spent some of her time working at the Thames Post Office while living on the Thames Coast with her retired father. In 1949 she married Arthur Reid and came to Paeroa.
Noeline and Arthur Reid were inaugural members of the Paeroa Historical Society and served on the Committee for many years. In 1997 they were honoured with Life Membership in recognition of their outstanding service to the Society and Museum.
An enthusiasm for life and desire to help others was always an integral part of Noeline's life. A lover of sport as a youngster, Noeline threw herself wholeheartedly into each code, be it hockey, table tennis or basketball (netball). Her involvement with netball began in 1957 as an umpire for primary netball and rose to be vice-president of the Association, retiring in 1972. She was made a Life Member of the Netball Association.
She was awarded the 20 Year Bar for Good Service to the Guiding movement in Paeroa and in 1989 retired after 25 years as a Brownie Leader, at which time tribute was paid for her service, not only to Brownies, but to the Association and to Girl Guides as a whole.
Noeline was a loyal member of the Methodist Church where she was involved in such varying tasks as administration, choral work, flower arranging and cleaning.
As her children grew up she was involved in the Plunket Society, Central School and District High School, as well as in Women's Division of Federated Farmers at Komata, where she was secretary and treasurer. She was a long-time member of the Paeroa A & P Association, serving as a committee member and art convenor. An active member of the Paeroa Red Cross, she contributed in the area of administration and as a meals-on-wheels driver. She was also in charge of Red Cross craft for 15 years.
In 1991 Noeline had the honour of being the second recipient of the Community Services Award. Nominated by Mrs Irene Hughes, Noeline Reid was described as "a devoted and thoughtful wife, mother and neighbour".
At the 1993 Paeroa A & P Association's Show, Noeline was one of five Paeroa women presented with the Royal Agricultural Society's Centennial Awards. These awards were presented to local women in the rural community who had been nominated by their peers as having made an exceptional contribution to their society. Noeline's award was well deserved and memory of her will live on in the lives of the many people with whom she was associated.
She is survived by her husband, Arthur, two daughters, a son and eight grandchildren.