RELATED: Australia Day honours for RSPCA veterinary surgeon Barbara Wellington, Edenhope's Evan Arnold and former Horsham mayor Bernard Gross.

Mrs Newton was recognised for her extensive community work at Harrow.

She was a founding member of the Harrow Discovery Centre, Harrow Promotion Development Group, Harrow by Night Sound and Light Show, and Harrow’s Beaut Blokes Weekend.

She is an organiser of the Harrow National Billy Cart Time Trial and was a former Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital board member.

Mrs Newton said she was overwhelmed and humbled to receive the award.

‘‘I will cherish this forever – it’s such an amazing honour,’’ she said.

‘‘I am so grateful.’’

Mrs Newton said she did not want to take all the credit though.

‘‘I am receiving this on behalf of the Harrow community,’’ she said.

‘‘It takes a lot of people doing lots and lots of things to make projects come together in a small community.

‘‘To a large degree, that’s why I accepted the nomination, in the hope that this might happen for my community.

‘‘Someone or a group of people have gone to a great deal of trouble to nominate me, so apart from being ungrateful, it would have been rude to not accept their amazing gesture and faith in me.’’

Mrs Newton said Australia Day was the most significant day on her calendar.

‘‘I am the girl who tears up at Australia Day celebrations – I am totally in love with Australia Day,’’ she said.

‘‘To receive this award, on Australia Day, in my community by the Glenelg River – it just gives me goosebumps. I’m so proud.’’

Mrs Newton said she had always been aware of her responsibility to her community.

‘‘Anything I can do to protect this country’s future by making my community a better and a healthier place to live is the very least I can do,’’ she said.

‘‘I am acutely aware of what an amazing country we live in and I feel this responsibility to do the best I can for my community and the people who live in it.

‘‘That’s why we live in such a fantastic country, because people work hard to make it fantastic.’’

Mrs Newton thanked her family for always supporting her in any project that was on the drawing board at any time.

‘‘Likewise friends have done the same, so it felt important to accept the nomination for their collective support and help,’’ she said.