HE’S been captain of the Maribyrnong River for over 30 years, now Peter Somerville is the 2010 Citizen of the Year.

But don’t expect him to come off his soapbox anytime soon.

“I’m just coming down off cloud nine,” he said last week.

His daughter Michelle nominated him for the award.

Mr Somerville, who “saw the light and crossed the river” and moved to Footscray in the mid-1980s, has run the Blackbird Cruises along the Maribyrnong River for over 30 years with son Warwick.

The now-Seddon resident, who was made president of the Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley last year, is a staunch campaigner for preserving the vegetation and wildlife surrounding the stretch.

Mr Somerville is also a member of the Friends of Sandy group and was a founding member and driving force behind the development of the Living Museum of the West.

His top-most priority this year will be to campaign for public open space in the new housing estate that will be built on the old Maribyrnong defence site.

Apart from the river, Mr Somerville said he loved the variety of pubs and restaurants the City of Maribyrnong had to offer, citing the Victoria and Mona Castle Hotels as favourites.

Mr Somerville was named Citizen of the Year during an Australia Day awards ceremony last week.

“Peter exemplifies a community volunteer, to him volunteering is a way of life – I could not think of a more worthy recipient,” mayor Sel Sanli said.

Other award winners include Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Sergeant Ian Brown, philanthropist Kim Thien Truong and the Footscray Swimming and Water Polo Club, which celebrated its 100-year anniversary last year.

Fifty-two residents became dinky-di Aussies during an Australia Day citizenship ceremony prior to the awards ceremony.