WHEN Narelle McClure received a call while holidaying in New Zealand from the Swan Hill rural city mayor regarding the citizen of the year award, she thought her equally community-minded husband was up for the accolade.

"I had a missed message from the mayor and I had to listen to it a few times because I didn't believe it," Ms McClure told The Guardian.

The Robinvale resident thought it was her husband, Daryl, who was receiving the award.

"He does so much for the community as well, he's involved in football and cricket, and outside commitments to his work," she said.

The Robinvale College administrative staff member was awarded the Swan Hill Rural City Council citizen of the year award as part of the Australia Day local honours.

Young citizen of the year award went to Hana Roberts while the annual Nyah district Christmas carnival was the star on top with the community event of the year category.

Ms McClure started her community work through sporting committees.

Both her sons played sport, and Mr McClure was a football player and cricketer.

"I just believed when you were playing you had to put your hand up," Ms McClure said.

She was previously the secretary of the junior football club.

Currently, she is the assistant to the secretary at Robinvale Euston Football Netball Club and secretary of Robinvale Junior Football and Cricket Club.

"I was born and raised in Robinvale and I believe when kids play sport you have to help," she said.

Ms McClure is also the secretary of the Robinvale Villers-Bretonneux Association.

Villers-Bretonneux in France is Robinvale's sister city.

She was instrumental in the year-long planing for the 2018 Villers-Bretonneux commemoration, marking 100 years since the 1918 battle of Villers-Bretonneux in France.

She has also chaperoned students from Robinvale College to Villers-Bretonneux and to the battlegrounds of the Western Front, also organising for 30 French visitors to visit Robinvale last year.