Since moving from Williamstown more than 35 years ago, she has devoted herself to school and kindergarten committees and countless community and sports organisations.

At an Australia Day ceremony last week, her dedication was recognised when she was named Hobsons Bay's citizen of the year.

Mayor Tony Briffa said Mrs Walsh, a long-time retailer in Pier Street, was the driving force behind the Altona Traders Association.

"Sharon has worked tirelessly for our community for a number of years, helping bring scores of people to Hobsons Bay through a range of initiatives, including the Altona Beach Market, Australia Day festivities in Logan Reserve and the Altona Beach Festival.

"Sharon has also devoted much of her time to helping those less fortunate."

Mrs Walsh told the Weekly she was honoured to receive such high praise.

"I knew I had been nominated, but I didn't think winning the award was even a remote possibility.

"I was pretty embarrassed by it. I do what I do because I love it, not for any reward or recognition.

"It [the award] hasn't sunk in yet."

Mrs Walsh, who was the first female coach at Altona Football Club, has never wavered in her affection for the place she calls home.

"We're still like a country town," she said.

"Everybody has a sense of pride in the community and we have everything you could want right on our doorstep, including beautiful beaches and parks.

"We want Altona to be progressive, but we never want to lose our village atmosphere. It's part of our charm.

"Those people from the other side of Melbourne who never go further than the West Gate are missing out.

"It's [Altona] good enough for the Prime Minister, so we're no longer a sleepy hollow."

The Lions Club of Altona was presented with the volunteer group of the year award.

In 2011, club members volunteered 12,000 hours of their time to events such as the Altona Beach Festival, Clean Up Australia Day, providing hampers for the disadvantaged and running a soup van.

They also donated more than $30,000 to the community and built a park at Flowerdale, which was blackened in the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.

Eighty-one new citizens were also welcomed into Hobsons Bay at a ceremony at the Williamstown Town Hall.

Nominations for the city's young citizen of the year award are still open.

Visit hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au by February 29.