CITIZENS of the Year Bert and Fay Brown have been active members of Monto Historical Society, the Presbyterian Church, Meals on Wheels, Montonians and the Lutheran Church.

Bert is a handyman and recently oversaw the installation of the new ramp and stairs at Selene Hall on the Monto Historical Society grounds.

Fay has been an active member of Meals on Wheels for many years, a caterer at Montonian lunches and played piano at various events and functions.

Both consider working and helping out intrinsic to them and while they don't seek the spotlight for it, their practical attitude and work ethic has earned them the recognition of Monto's 2018 Citizens of the Year.

"It's rather humbling, we appreciate the thoughts of the people,” Fay said.

"It's good that some people think we're doing all right,” Bert added.

Neither Bert nor Fay expected the win, believing what they did as volunteers wasn't anything beyond what should be expected.

"It's the way we were brought up, we were both born into big families and when you're in big families, you learn to look after your siblings and yourself,” Bert said.

Bert was born in Kingaroy and lived there until he was 18, while Fay has lived in Monto all her life.

Bert came to town for a fortnight when he was young to do some work and it was then he met Fay.

They settled on a property on Lutje Rd, which they sold 25 years ago and semi-retired to a beach house at Hervey Bay.

After 12 months, they decided the beach life wasn't for them and moved back to Monto.

"We wanted to find out where we'd like to settle, we came back to Monto to help our family out and ended up staying,” Fay said.

"Our girls asked why we ever left in the first place, and we didn't know.”

The couple are happy to keep working for as long as they can.

Fay was a member of Meals on Wheels for 37years, with Bert often accompanying her on thedrives, only steppingdown last year dueto illness.

Bert's main job has been working on the hall but he keeps himself busy with other projects.

When he and Fay accepted the award, he said he would rather be working than getting up in front of a crowd.

"You just help wherever you can, that's life,” he said.