By Eleanor Mackay Australian of the Year nomination a shock If there were more people like her, the world would be a far better place.
Jenifer Gray of Ngunnawal has been nominated for the Australian of the Year for her volunteer work. Photos: MELISSA ADAMS For many volunteer-driven organisations around the ACT, Jenifer Gray is a godsend. 
She spends her days helping others out, while still juggling her own cancer treatments and family commitments.
But at the age of 72, Ms Gray shows no signs of slowing down.
She regularly helps out with the Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and the Australian Federal Police - something she "enjoys very much".
Ms Gray was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago, and fought to make a full recovery.
However in   November she received the devastating news she had pancreatic cancer, which she has been fighting since.
"Hopefully I'll be clear by Christmas," she said.
For most cancer sufferers, once their treatments finish they hope never to return to their wards.
Ms Gray, however, has signed up to become a volunteer in the oncology ward where she has been receiving treatment.
"I've told them I'll be back and thank them for the work they've done for me, and hopefully I can do the same for other people," she said.
Also a regular blood donor for many years, Ms Gray encourages everyone to donate blood if they can.
"It's something I really appreciate now, because I have had to have transfusions as part of my treatment," she said.
As part of her work as a volunteer for the AFP, something she has been doing for five years, she mans the front desk, acts as a justice of the peace, runs fundraising barbecues and performs general administration duties.
Ms Gray has now been nominated for an Australian of the Year award, something that came as a huge shock.
"When they rang, I thought they must have been wanting to do a survey," she said.
"The idea would never have entered my head in a million years!"
Ms Gray later found out she had been nominated by her son Troy, who saw how much his mum gave back to others.
"I've seen how much she has done for everyone else all my life, and never asked for anything in return," Troy said.
"If there were more people like her, the world would be a far better place."
Ms Gray hopes her nomination will encourage other people to get into volunteer work.
Nominations for the Australian of the Year awards close on   August 3.