Last week she was named Hume Council's resident of the month, recognising her work with the Sunbury and District Heritage Society.

"I'm interested in history and that may have stemmed from my education at St Columbus. I'm very passionate about our history and for it to survive," said Mrs Burgess, who is the society's president.

She has been a member of more than 70 committees and groups since moving to Sunbury in the early '70s.

"It stems back from when I was 11 or 12 when I used to go around coaching country kids in tennis," she said.

"I think living in the environment that I lived in and lots of people coming to the tennis courts to play, it was very social. I then extended my interest to the Royal Children's Hospital and was recognised there as an honorary life governor for my work raising money when I was 17 or 18."

Mrs Burgess said that when she moved to Sunbury with her husband John and four children, she could tell immediately it was a close-knit community.

She has been a life member of the swimming club, a shire councillor, president of the heritage association, president of Friends of Evans Street Wildflower Grassland, and an executive member of the Calder Highway Improvement Committee.

Also, she is a foundation member of the Sunbury Police Community Consultative Committee, chairwoman of the Sunbury Police Community Register and a member of the International Women's Day steering committee.