Rick Kiembe Mwamba, a refugee from Democratic Republic of the Congo, is the city's Young Citizen of the Year.

The two, both from Altona North, were honoured at yesterday's Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony at Williamstown.

Mr Kralevski, 67, was recognised for his voluntary work with Macedonian senior citizens - including his parents who live in the next street.

"For the old people who want to stay home, I go shopping for them," he said.

"Or, if they are in hospital, I go to hospital to visit. The old people need someone to talk to; they are happy when you go and talk to them."

Born in Macedonia, he arrived in Australia in 1965 with his wife, Nadezda, and their eldest son George. They have lived in the Altona area ever since.

Secretary of the Macedonian Senior Citizens of Hobsons Bay and co-ordinator of the Federation of the Senior Citizens' Group of the Western Region, Mr Kralevski has been honoured with numerous awards.

These include prestigious accolades from organisations in his Macedonian homeland, the Red Cross and State Government. But he said being named Citizen of the Year was most humbling.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Kralevski said the award was very telling of Hobsons Bay's close-knit community.

"Even being nominated for the Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year Award for 2010 is an incredible honour, particularly given the extraordinary strength of the field this year, but to win against such strong competition is just amazing.

"I feel humble, but at the same time incredibly proud."

■Rick, Hobsons Bay's Young Citizen of the Year, who is in year 12 at Bayside College, was honoured for being a positive role model since arriving in Australia in 2007. Rick has been involved in the Safe@work program at Bayside College, and last year's Young Western Leaders' Summit and New and Emerging Communities Youth Leadership program.

His family fled their homeland where his father was a politician, spending six years in hiding in the neighbouring Republic of Congo. Rick hopes to be a doctor so he can help other people.

The recipient of the Young Citizen of the Year Special Commendation Award was Australian Teens Against Animal Cruelty, while the Citizen of the Year Special Commendation Award went to the Lions Club of Altona.