The Millthorpe woman has been nominated for an Orange Australia Day citizen of the year award for dedicating her spare time, and delicious cooking, to worthy causes.

Mrs Wilson, modest of her achievements, began her volunteering career 40 years ago, when her two children were at Millthorpe Public School and she joined the P and C Committee and mothers group and contributed baked goods to fetes and markets stalls.

She was also a member of Millthorpe’s Royal Far West branch for 30 years before it folded, and then dedicated her time to Cancer Care Western NSW, where she is a board member and has helped raised thousands of dollars for the organisations through catering at the Millthorpe Garden Ramble and selling jams and preserves at the Millthorpe markets.

She also caters weddings, birthdays and wakes with the Forest Reefs Uniting Church Women’s Fellowship to raise money for the church and other causes like the Royal Flying Doctor Service, among many other things.

Mrs Wilson, who worked in aged care for many years as a registered nurse but is now retired, said volunteering was just part of her daily life.

“With working in aged care for so long, I believe I am a caring person. I lost my mother and father to cancer, so that’s why I like to support the cancer side of things, and I’m passionate about children,” Mrs Wilson said.

“I do it because I want to to do it, I don’t want to do it for recognition.”

She said the felt “quite humbled” about the nomination for the award, but modestly said she did not deserve it.

“I feel there are many more people in the community who are more deserving, who do so many more things than I do.”

An independent panel will judge the nominations for Orange’s Australia Day awards, which also include young citizen of the year, community group of the year and community event of the year.

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony at Cook Park on January 26.

alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au