They call her Auntie Jeanne and to her, all the young people at Tararua Community Youth Services are her kids and whanau.
Jeanne O'Brien, manager of the organisation, is passionate, dedicated and committed to our young people and her team of youth workers, retiring chairwoman Te Amokura Gaffey said at last week's annual general meeting.
"You all do important work."
Jeanne's involvement with the young people of Tararua began 28 years ago and although the service has moved on from the days of television aerials made from coat hangers and a pool table built from beer crates, it's still the young people who are at the centre of everything the organisation does, she said.
"For us it's about celebrating our journey with our young people. Tararua Community Youth Services is special. We are small in number, but big in impact.