The Creswick Hospital Auxiliary's "It's a Shoe Thing" fundraiser has been named Community Event of the Year.

Family and friends of the recipients gathered with the community at a ceremony at the Daylesford Town Hall on Sunday night.

Ms Van Oostveen, known as "Jo", arrived in Creswick in 1957 as a Dutch migrant.

Her volunteer work has included being Mother's Club and Lion's Club president, hostel and Meals on Wheels volunteer, and Calembeen Park committee member.

She has also served as secretary of the Creswick and District Historical Society and has been an active member of the Creswick Forum Action Group, Creswick District News, the Information Centre and Creswick Museum.

At home she has helped husband John create a miniature railway which has also been open to the public to raise money for the community.

Ms Van Oostveen said she was "thrilled" to receive the award but had never sought recognition.

"Volunteering is something you want to do," she said.

"In giving you receive and if you can make someone's day just a little brighter . . . "

It's a Shoe Thing exhibition attracted hundreds of people to Creswick, over its 10-day period, with the $7000 raised used to provide important equipment, now in use in Creswick's hospital and nursing home.

The event included 170 exhibits all created somehow from shoes or footwear by people from across Victoria.