“I just like giving back to people,” the Mt Warrigal resident said.

“My mother died of cancer when I was 15 or 16, and I’ve had a brother and a sister die of cancer.

“Also, our daughter Rebecca is a cancer survivor.

“I don’t think you’d meet many people in the area who haven’t been touched by cancer.

“We’ve been fairly lucky in life and we just like to give back. We get a lot of pleasure out of it.”

Last Thursday night, Mr Wilson, 67, was announced as the Shellharbour Citizen of the Year.

The award will be presented at Shellharbour City Council’s 2012 Australia Day ceremony.

“I wasn’t quite prepared on the night, because I thought I had no chance of winning,” Mr Wilson said.

“I wasn’t seeking the limelight; it was quite humbling.”

Following his retirement 12 years ago, Mr Wilson joined the Cancer Carers, who boast about 230 volunteers.

He is currently chairman of the banquet committee.

This involves helping organise fundraising events, including their major annual fundraiser the Banquet at the Beach.

The event raised about $149,000 last year.

Mr Wilson said the Cancer Carers had donated more than $2 million to various hospitals and to palliative care services in the area during the past 20 years.

All funds raised stay within the Illawarra.

“We’re trying to make the hospitals here as good as anywhere else in the country and make sure the care they get is as good, if not better than anywhere else.

“I’m not sure we’re there yet, but it’s not for lack of trying,” he laughed.

Mr Wilson’s wife Maria is vice-president of the Cancer Carers.

“Maria was involved for a few years before I was,” Mr Wilson said. “With my background in sales, it was the obvious thing (fundraising) to go into.”

When asked if such acknowledgment encouraged him to put in even more hours, Mr Wilson laughed.

“I think my wife would kill me if I worked any harder,” he said.