They are Kathy Watt, Kathleen Brown and Lisa Gervasoni along with Margaret Grenfell, whose award was posthumous.

Hepburn Shire International Women's Day committee member Anne E Stewart said Clunes resident Margaret Grenfell, who was born in 1912 and died in 2006, was honoured for her tireless and ongoing support of her community.

"Margaret was involved with the Clunes Presbyterian Church for nearly 90 years starting as a pupil at Sunday school, then as a Sunday school teacher," Ms Stewart said.

Ms Grenfell achievements included: involvement with the Presbyterian Girls Fellowship; being a regular visitor to the John Curtin Hostel; the first female member of the Clunes Hospital Board of Management; a member of the Hospital Auxiliary; served on the Red Cross for 65 years

in Clunes and Tourello branches; being a member of the Horticultural Society; and a founding member of the Clunes Agricultural Society Ladies Committee.

Ms Grenfell was also with the CWA for many years and involved in the Senior Citizens, Clunes Bowling Club, Clunes Golf Club, Uniting Church, Blind Auxiliary, Clunes Museum and Clunes Day Centre.

Ms Stewart said Kathleen Brown was "a little Aussie battler".

Born and bred in Trentham, Ms Brown was honoured for her involvement with the Trentham Fire Brigade.

"It was the Ash Wednesday fires that prompted Kathleen to join in the 1980s.

"In the days before women were on the brigade, she joined men's team as a communication officer," Ms Stewart said.

"As well as the fire brigade, Kathleen was also a member of the Trentham Swimming Pool Committee."

Ms Stewart said Lisa Gervasoni came from a long line of strong pioneer women and had "visited or lived in Daylesford all her life".

Existing honours and awards included being a member Italian Committee for the Co-ordination of International Relations, a Rotary GSE recipient, holding the State Planning Award and National Planning Award and an outstanding contributor to Picture Australia.