She fears society will one day reach a “tipping point” from which climate change can never be reversed.

That has been the motivation for her seven years of volunteer work in environmental activism on the Border.

The Wodonga resident has been awarded a 2014 Community Environmental Recognition Award by Environment Victoria.

The awards aim to celebrate the achievements, courage and persistence of community groups and leaders across the state to safeguard the environment.

But Ms Salmon’s commitment meant she couldn’t accept the award in person.

Instead, a friend in Melbourne attended the awards ceremony while she honoured commitments during the Border’s recent inaugural Sustainable Living Week.

The Wodonga resident’s effort in establishing and co-ordinating Border group WATCH — Wodonga Albury Toward Climate Health — was cited in her nomination for the award.

Also mentioned were a bill busters campaign to help people reduce energy bills, a sustainable living film festival and the recent establishment of a climate impacts database to collate and publicise the impact of heatwaves on the Border.

“It was unexpected,” Ms Salmon said yesterday.

“There were something like 40 nominations and about 12 people received awards.

“It was a real thrill to receive the phone call from the chief executive of Environment Victoria notifying me I had won.”

But Ms Salmon said the honour was not just a tribute to what she had achieved.

“You very much do it as a team, and that’s not just the WATCH team,” she said.

“There are something like 60 sustainability groups in the wider region.

“You draw strength from that, knowing you’re not alone with lots of like-minded support.”

Fellow WATCH member Karen Bowley nominated Ms Salmon, pointing out she was “passionate, articulate and highly informed on matters environmental”.