Henty’s Alison Schuster reflects on her 2025 Citizen of the Year Award
Published on 12 November 2025
Like many volunteers, last year’s Citizen of the Year award winner, Henty’s Alison Schuster, thinks her contribution to the local community was, well, no big deal.
She admits she was just doing what she enjoyed doing, helping others when help was needed and being involved in community events and activities.
When she was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award, she said she was quite shocked.
“I didn’t have a clue on the day that I’d won it and I was really humbled to be even considered because anything I did was just so ordinary to me,” she said.
“Then I was asked to do a speech and I still to this day can’t remember what I said!”
Alison has been involved with many community groups in her time at Henty and before that in Lockhart Shire at her property ‘Munyabla’.
They include time with the Red Cross since 1980 until it was disbanded and Meals on Wheels with UPA for more than 30 years. She was a Show Society steward and has been presented with a certificate of appreciation for 20 years work and is also well known for her catering services, with her specialty being the monthly birthday cake at the Community Club.
The Henty Community Club nominated Alison and said her catering skills had been an asset to the club and many other organisations in the township. They also recognised her exceptional sportsmanship, particularly at bowls, and said her popularity and humility has been a wonderful example to others.
Looking back, Alison said winning the award was a special moment for her.
“It is an honour, such an honour and it doesn’t really sink in at the time.
“For me, they were just everyday things I was doing. There are so many people who are doing things in a quiet way which they never want recognition for.
“I think I got a lot more out of doing what I did than I put in - the friendships and the fun we had, that all was great and it just all went together.”
She reveals she had family members with her on the day of the awards ceremony, to “pick up the pieces as they jokingly said” in case she lost.
“That’s the sort of family I have,” she says proudly.
The family will be rallying again around Alison this Christmas as she gets set to turn 90 years old on Boxing Day with a “family only” celebration in Albury.
Whilst she’s not currently holding any specific roles in the local community, she says she’s always willing to put her hand up if help is needed somewhere and is happy just being a part of things going on around her.
She’s keeping active and has taken up an “elderly persons gym class” in her village which she says has been surprisingly enjoyable.
“We do it all sitting down. You know it’s amazing what muscles you can use doing it that way. It’s a lot of fun.”
Know someone like Alison? Nominate them today and give their story the spotlight it deserves.