Lake Macquarie Citizen of the Year June Cameron has vowed not to give up what she loves doing – helping the community.

The Warners Bay resident was honoured at the Lake Macquarie Australia Day ceremony for her dedication to educating the hearing impaired, Girl Guides and the Uniting Church.

Mrs Cameron said she was very honoured and humbled by the award.

“I am only one of many people who do things for the Lake Macquarie community,” she said.

In her earlier years, Mrs Cameron lived with a family with a hearing impaired child and became interested in hearing impaired education.

After graduating from teachers college, she was eventually put in charge of the Integrated Unit for hearing impaired students in high schools.

“I liked the challenge – it was a very interesting profession and a very rewarding one,” she said.

Mrs Cameron has also been involved with Girl Guides for 26 years and is the current chair of the Asia Pacific region World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

She has also been awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to youth, particularly in guiding and teaching the hearing impaired.

Also picking up an award on Australia Day was Deidre Ham from Belmont South for Volunteer of the Year.

Ms Ham has cooked for Belmont Wheels on Meals, been the area coordinator for Belmont Neighbourhood Watch for 23 years, a volunteer with Friends of Belmont Cemetery, and a member of the Domestic Violence Committee for Belmont Court House.

Community group of the year went to the Delta Society, Hunter-Newcastle.

The society has 25 pet partner teams visiting facilities in the Lake Macquarie area, including hospitals, rehabilitation units, mental health facilities, and nursing homes.

Community Event of the Year went to the Rathmines Catalina Festival, which raised funds for restoration of a WWII Catalina flying boat and the construction of a hanger/museum in Rathmines Park.