Mrs Althofer began her incredible volunteer history more than 70 years ago. She soon became Cub mistress of Wellington Scouts; then a couple of decades later fundraised for schools and later was a staunch member of Wellington Quota Club.

Mrs Althofer is well-recognised for her continuing service to Burrendong Arboretum, which she helped to instigate and establish with her late husband, George and others many decades ago.

For her arborist work Mrs Althofer was awarded the Order of Australia Medal some time ago.

Notes from the Australia Day committee said "despite the restriction of her advancing years, Hazel Althofer had maintained a strong involvement with Burrendong Arboretum and had been a member of the Friends of the Arboretum since first established".

But separately she is also a government appointed trustee of the Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum, and still a regular helper.

Hazel Althofer has maintained a close and influential relationship with the world-class arboretum.

The notes went on to say "for years, her recall of the thousands upon thousands of latin botanical names of rare and endangered plants protected at the arboretum has helped to maintain the registers and management of the vast plant and seed collections for which the arboretum assumed custodianship. Her plant knowledge is second to none".

Mrs Althofer and the Burrendong Botanic Gardens both received community service awards on Monday.