Judy Owen, a long-standing volunteer in a number of roles, has been leader of the Australian Air League Berwick Girls Squadron for 20 years.

She is treasurer and booking officer at the Narre Warren Mechanics Institute Hall and has been installed as a City of Casey Ageing Positive Champion.

She is also on call to help young people at police stations as part of the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program.

In other awards, Gleneagles Secondary College school captain Beth Cooper was named young citizen of the year, and Cranbourne U3A co-founder and Cranbourne Information and Support Service secretary Judy Symons was announced as senior citizen of the year.

The Berwick Highland Gathering held by the Rotary Club of Narre Warren last February won the Casey community event award.

At the ceremony yesterday, Casey Mayor Lorraine Wreford said: ‘‘I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to the spirit of Australia on Australia Day than to turn the spotlight on these wonderful people and their drive, commitment and big-heartedness.

‘‘These are the qualities that have built our nation, and that I am so proud and pleased to see in abundance here in the City of Casey.’’

The city basked in a number of Australia Day celebrations, including a multicultural Day of the Nations event in Hampton Park and a sunset cinema at Sawtell’s Inlet Memorial Island, Tooradin.

A citizenship ceremony was held at the Cranbourne Community Theatre with more than 100 people of different nationalities pledging their allegiance to Australia at the event.