40 years' service to dancing honoured

For many years, Jean Baxter, 78, has been involved in organising highland dancing. At the 144th Waipu Highland Games, she was awarded for her services. Photo / John Stone

Jean Baxter is Waipu's mother duck of Scottish highland dancing.

For more than 40 years, the 78-year-old has worked behind the scenes to help organise highland dancing events and look after dancers. At the 144th Waipu Highland Games held on New Year's Day, she was awarded for her services.

The award was supposed to be a surprise but Mrs Baxter was not fooled.

"I knew it was coming because I asked to see the report and I thought 'How did my name get here?'" she laughed.

Kay Grout, Patron of the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand, travelled from Auckland to Waipu to present Mrs Baxter with a Piping and Dancing Meritorious Service Award - an award presented to people who are highly involved with piping and highland dancing.

"There are so many deserving mums and dads who do things to help, who are not just pipers or dancers, that need to be recognised," said Mrs Grout.

Mrs Baxter is the chief steward of dancing and has been a secretary treasurer for the Waipu Caledonian Society. She has helped with highland dancing in Waipu for so long, she'll tell you herself, everyone knows her.

"My daughter was talking to someone one day and my name was mentioned and she said, 'Hey, that's my mum'. The thing is with this you'll always run into people who are involved with dancing."

Mrs Baxter's love for the Scottish dance is in her blood.

"My mum was born in Scotland and that entire side of family is Scottish.

"I would have loved to dance. I love the music, I love everything about it and the people are so lovely," she smiled.