Sharon Walsh, liaison officer for Altona Village Traders Association, was last Thursday named business management and marketing champion of the year at the inaugural Mainstreet Australia Awards.

The awards attracted about 60 entrants from strip shopping centres across Australia and New Zealand.

Ms Walsh, who founded the Altona Beach Market five years ago, said she almost collapsed when her name was called out.

"I nearly fainted. It knocked my socks off.

"I've got a book here with some of the other entrants and they were from Elsternwick, Rosanna, Brentford Square, Box Hill, Northcote ... and little old Altona won.

"I could hear people going, 'Altona? Where's that?"'

Ms Walsh put her success down to local understanding.

"I live here, I live in the town, I was a retailer in the town, I just understand the place."

Kim Walsh, her husband, who is trader association president, said he couldn't be more proud.

"Sharon was instrumental in getting the now very famous Edwards Lane mural commissioned and it continues to attract people into Altona.

"We even have Japanese tourists having their photo taken in front of the mural as well as old-time Altona people who regard it as their own.

"So good is the mural that Keep Australia Beautiful uses it as a benchmark when applications for anti-graffiti funding grants are applied for.

"The ongoing friendship alliance with our country cousins in Donald and the shire of Buloke - a first of its kind - has received so much favourable attention as we city folk help our country neighbours during the ongoing drought.

"This is all driven by Sharon.

"Sandstorm Altona was organised by Sharon, and we had world champion sand sculptors creating huge sand sculptures in the main street of Altona and attracting thousands of people into our town." She was also responsible for Altona's Australia Day events and an annual family day culminating in evening fireworks.

"While a number of other awards were made during the evening at Manningham, the award won by Sharon was like the Gold Logie and the one everyone wanted to win," Mr Walsh said.