She is a woman who has overcome adversity with other people always at the forefront of her mind and it is for this reason, among many more, she was named Albury’s Woman of the Year.

After the unexpected death of her husband, Frank, in 1984, Mrs Martin was left to run the family’s transport business Martins Travel Group.

With two of her children at university and one in high school at the time, she said she “pulled herself together” and got the business going.

“I was determined to continue on the business, my children were still reliant on me, I had several staff members and I really needed to keep the business going in order to keep them on and give them stability as well,” she said.

“I felt very excited and very privileged to receive the award, it really is an honour to be a representative for all the women in this region, I feel like I am standing here representing them — all the volunteers and community workers it is very rewarding.”

Mrs Martin was the first female member of the Rotary Club of Albury, she provides free transport for veterans on Anzac Day and has also served on several boards and committees throughout Albury.

She said she volunteers because she loves people and has a need to help.

Albury MP Greg Aplin described her as a “very deserving” recipient.

“I remember back in the day for the festival of sport, she was the first one to volunteer to sponsor the Young Achiever Award and she was the inaugural and a long time sponsor of those awards which is another indication of her involvement in our community,” he said.

Mrs Martin will attend the NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Award today in Canberra.