SWOTY: The women who are changing the world as we know

All are passionate, dedicated, courageous and strong - the kind of women who make life better for others, often overcoming great personal hardship to do so.

As the 52nd Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year takes her place on the roll of honour, ANN FOTHERINGHAM looks back at more than five decades of wonderful, world-changing women.

A stroll around the Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year exhibition at the St Enoch Centre, is an awe-inspiring experience.

The walls are covered with words and photos which reveal some incredible stories.

There's our first winner, Bessie Johnston, in 1963, at the start of the decade when women's lib kickstarted a revolution in home and workplace.

Bessie campaigned tirelessly for the British Red Cross, the British Empire Cancer Campaign and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution among many others.

The 1960s also saw Isobel Murdoch lift the title.

Isobel set up the pioneering Hansel Village in Ayrshire, changing the way people with learning disabilities were supported and viewed forever.

In the 70s, as women continued to make their mark on Scottish society, a diverse mix of campaigners, social reformers and entertainers picked up the title.

Winners included, in 1970, the formidable Margaret Herbison, who fought fiercely for women's place in politics and championed social reforms.

She became Britain's first Minister for Social Security and the first woman to be appointed Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The 80s - the decade of power dressing and pop - were dominated by women who summed up the growing confidence of the time, who went the extra mile for others.

Winners included, in 1987, Susan Wighton, a healthworker who looked after the sick and injured in Palestine refugee camps, risking her own life, and in 1988, Sheila Halley, the driving force behind the Dixon Day Centre, one of Scotland's biggest and most welcoming centres for the elderly.

In the 90s, as women were increasingly expected to juggle the demands of work and family life, our awards discovered Scotland had more than its fair share of superwomen.

Dr Anne Gilmore, who founded the internationally-respected Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow, won in 1992 and Peggy O'Donnell, who worked all hours to ensure the wellbeing of 800 pensioners as part of a street warden scheme in Govanhill, claimed the title in 1993.

In the Noughties, an awe-inspiring list of winners included Sandra Brown in 2005 and Margo Whiteford in 2009.

The former, who believed her own father was responsible for the death of a young Coatbridge girl who disappeared in 1957, set up the Moira Anderson Foundation to help sexually abused children and their families.

The latter, a consultant geneticist who has spina bifida, helped to raise hundreds of thousands for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association.

In recent years, ouir SWOTYs have been women who have overcome horrific events in their personal lives to fight for change.

Our Golden Jubilee winner - who was also our youngest - was Erin McNeill 22. She survived terrible burns to campaign for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the British Red Cross.

And Ann Moulds, last year's winner, survived a terrifying stalking ordeal to successfully campaign for tougher laws in Scotland, the rest of the UK and around Europe.

At last night's SWOTY dinner, comedian and actress Elaine C Smith entertained guests and she joins a long list of prestigious speakers and 'turns' who have graced the event with their presence.

From HRH Princess Royal, who attended our silver jubilee and prime-minister-to-be Gordon Brown to comedian Karen Dunbar, violinist Nicola Benedetti and popstar Amy McDonald, the list is diverse and astonishing.

Everyone wants to be part of SWOTY.

It is the longest running female achievement award in the UK, and above all, it is a celebration of Scotland's remarkable women.

Here's to the next 52 years......