The Westmeadows resident, who was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and bone cancer, was too ill to make an acceptance speech on Australia Day, and had to let her daughter, Kaylene Wilson, give a pre-prepared speech.

Ms Wilson has slowed down, but will not let her illness get the better of her and continues to campaign for improvements to the community she has lived in for the past 50 years.

"When I first heard [I'd won] I asked them if I was the only one nominated," Ms Wilson said.

"I don't think that I am worthy of it - what I've done I've enjoyed and it hasn't felt like a chore."

Ms Wilson started her neighbourhood's first kindergarten, was the first Westmeadows District Commissioner of the Girl Guides and has raised money for local charities.

She contributed to the first Erinbank Secondary College school council, headed the Mayoress Charity Committee and worked on Neighbourhood Watch and the Terminate Tullamarine Toxic Dump Action Group.

Ms Wilson said she always did what she felt "there was a need for". "You start off on small things and you just seem to get fired up and keep going," she said.

"When my husband was alive, the phone would ring and he would stand in front of it and say 'no, not something else'. "

Young Citizens of the Year Elizabeth Marr and Romina Martiniello, both 17, were recognised for being role models. Ms Marr, from Hume Central Secondary College,

is a coach and teacher. She has been involved with AFL Auskick for four years, gaining her coaching accreditation when she was 15.

Ms Martiniello, from Salesian College, was recognised for leadership at school and for volunteering at the local St Vincent de Paul shop and Don Bosco camps with children during school holidays. She won the Community Spirit award last year.