Helen and Maitland Manning, with RSA District President Paddy Driver at the presentation of Maitland's Royal New Zealand RSA Gold Star.
Helen and Maitland Manning, with RSA District President Paddy Driver at the presentation of Maitland's Royal New Zealand RSA Gold Star.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Waipawa and Districts Returned and Services Association held on July 7, the organisation's long standing president Maitland Manning was presented with a Royal New Zealand RSA Gold Star for outstanding service to the RNZRSA.
Maitland was elected as the Wairarapa/Hawke's Bay/East Coast District'svice president in 2011 and president in 2017. During those years he has presided over annual district AGMs and participated as a board member representing the district on the RNZRSA for the three years between 2015 and 2017.
In presenting the award Paddy Driver (Dannevirke), the current district president, spoke of Maitland's contribution to his local RSA since joining 20 years ago. He started as the honorary padre but soon became involved on the committee, using his organising skills to facilitate many public displays incorporating the Waipawa RSA.
The Centennial Commemoration last year and the display of the white crosses "Field of Remembrance" in Nelly Jull Park each Anzac Day were two that drew wide public support. He was also responsible for the research into the writing, compiling and publishing of the centennial book on the history of the Waipawa RSA.
The Waipawa RSA has awarded Maitland Manning with a Life Membership Award (2010) and a Certificate of Appreciation (2014) which led to a RNZRSA Merit Award in 2015.
His civic activities, which include four terms as a CHB District councillor and his six years chairmanship of Presbyterian Support East Coast plus his involvement with many other charity based organisations, were recognised with the award of the Queen's Service Medal in 2012. Maitland is also a JP and has promoted many local activities while serving as a member of the Otane Community Trust.
