Gretchen Olliver-Preston said her husband, Wax Preston, who died in April, was proud of the award he received for years of voluntary service to the community and said it was important to recognise the contribution of the city's many volunteers.
"He was very quiet about the award but secretly he was very proud of it," Mrs Olliver-Preston said.
"The framed award had pride of place on the hallway wall."
Mr Preston was active in Lions clubs and a founding member of the Otago Service Clubs Medical Trust and the South Dunedin Community Patrol.
He was still working on community projects during the last days of his life, which were spent at the Otago Community Hospice.
"He was always hard-working, but the award gave him a bit more of a sparkle.
"It is important to acknowledge people's efforts because there are a lot of people doing good things."
Nominations are now open for the fifth annual Dunedin Stars awards, run by The Star.
The awards are Dunedin's celebration of our city's volunteers and unsung heroes.
Star readers are encouraged to think of people they can nominate - people who live according to the maxim that giving is better than receiving, whose efforts make our community a better place to live.
It was "crucial" volunteers' efforts were recognised, Volunteering Otago manager Susie Yeats said.
"Having someone say thank you helps volunteers want to continue," Ms Yeats said.
The Dunedin Stars awards highlighted the important contribution of volunteering across diverse sectors of the city, she said.
There are two categories in the awards: Community Spirit and Young Star.
Last year's Dunedin Stars Young Star supreme winner Emma Rosevear has added her voice to the call for nominations.
"If you know people who have been working hard for others, then please nominate them," Miss Rosevear said.
All nominees and their nominators are invited to the Dunedin Stars awards ceremony at which the supreme winner and two merit award winners are announced in each of the two categories.
This year's Dunedin Stars awards night is on December 2.
Guests will include Community and Volunteer Sector Minister Tariana Turia and Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin.
