Agnes Anne Thorpe - Champion of Communities

By JEFF CALDER

A champion of the Otaki and Horowhenua communities has been added to a select group of people when she was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Agnes Anne Thorpe, more commonly known as Anne, received her merit for services to the community.

Mrs Thorpe taught unemployed youth at the Levin Youth Learning Centre, directed the Horowhenua Youth Learning Centre, has worked on the Corrections Department's helping services committee and was national trainer for the probation service.

Mrs Thorpe was also a director of the Horowhenua Learning Centre.

She is also a justice of the peace and president of Birthright.

Mrs Thorpe founded the Citizens Advice in Otaki and was its president and also the leader of the Otaki Montessori Early Childhood Centre.

She is founding president of the Otaki Museum and has recorded the oral history of local Maori, European and Chinese people in New Zealand. She initiated the restoration of the old Bank of New Zealand building in Otaki.

She has served on and chaired the Otaki College board of governors.

Mrs Thorpe has also been on the executives of and chaired the New Zealand Oral History Association and the Celebrants Association of New Zealand.

No picture of Mrs Thorpe was unavailable at the time of the Chronicle going to press.