CHRIS MacGregor is this year’s Wyndham Citizen of the Year.

An independent judging panel deemed Ms MacGregor a worthy recipient for the award for her generosity to the Wyndham community and leadership in driving initiatives for the improvement of the entire western region.

The award surprised the successful businesswoman. “I got off the phone and I had the shivers for 10 minutes. I had absolutely no idea about it at all.

“Let me say, some of the people who have won it before ... I am in very, very special company there, so I am just so chuffed.”

Ms MacGregor built the family transport business, MacGregor by Road, into an accredited world-best-practice operation.

But her story is all the more special because she learnt the trade from her husband, Bill Featherstone, who died six years ago after a long illness.

In 1989, Mr Featherstone suffered a series of strokes that left him unable to run the business.

With the challenge of caring for her sick husband and raising their then nine-year-old son, Ms MacGregor rebuilt the business into a highly successful and well respected operation, now employing 15 staff.

Her contribution to the transport industry was recognised last September, when at 61, she was named the 2006 Australian Freight and Logistics Industry Personality of the Year.

Not content with focusing on her own challenges, Ms MacGregor also worked tirelessly to improve opportunities for young people and small-business operators in the West.

In the mid-1990s, Ms MacGregor worked as chairman on the BIZeWEST steering committee.

This important project, which was funded by the State Government and facilitated by the Western Melbourne Regional Economic Development Organisation (WREDO), developed an internet portal for businesses across the West.

Ms MacGregor led a committee of local government and business representatives through the development and implementation stages of the project for local businesses.

To further enhance economic growth throughout the region, Ms MacGregor also led the development of Melbourne’s West Area Consultative Committee (MWACC).

As MWACC chair, Ms MacGregor used her first-hand knowledge of the transport industry and passion for Melbourne’s West to lead the development of goals for improvement to be pursued in the next few years.

She has also worked to deal with issues affecting young people in the western region, acting as chair of the Melton/Brimbank Local Learning and Employment Network.

This organisation aims to facilitate the transition of young people aged 15-19 years into further education, training and employment.

Ms MacGregor has established links across the region by networking with local organisations, education and training providers, employment agencies, government and unions.

But Ms MacGregor’s proudest achievement was the lasting tribute to Bill Featherstone.

After the death of her husband in 2000, Ms MacGregor and her son Martin were keen to give back to the organisation, that had provided accommodation to Mr Featherstone, as well as improving care facilities for the Wyndham community.

In 2003, she and Martin donated $100,000 to the Wyndham Lodge Community Nursing Home.

This assisted in the extending of the facility from 30 to 60 beds, with the new building being named Bill Featherstone House.

Last week she was informed the Government had granted funds for 15 more beds at the lodge, with five of those beds set aside for people who can not afford to lodge a bond.

Ms MacGregor continues to be a supporter of other organisations and events throughout the West, including the Footscray Rotary Club and the Victorian Fashion Awards.

Wyndham mayor Shane Bourke congratulated Ms MacGregor on her new award.

“Chris MacGregor has made a significant contribution to the Wyndham community through her generosity and leadership,” he said.