IT’S THE most wonderful time of the year – no, NOT Christmas, although that’s lovely too.

I’m talking about Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year nominations time, when I get to write about the charity workers, lollipop ladies, world-leading scientists, business bosses and health pioneers making a difference all over Scotland.

Every year, without fail, the process uncovers a breathtaking array of unsung heroines and the task of choosing just one winner is almost impossible.

I’m lucky – I get to spend some time with the women who make it on to the final shortlist and it’s always an exhilarating, emotional, exciting experience.

The finalists are all very different, from varied walks of life, all ages, from all over Scotland. But they all have an incredible, inspiring tale to tell. They are all achieving fabulous things, often against the odds, always with determination and spirit, to make life better for others.

The other thing they have in common is modesty – I have lost count of the number of times I’ve told a woman she is on the shortlist only to be met with: “But why me? I don’t do anything special…”

The awards dinner itself is a brilliant night. Almost 300 women, blethering over a glass of wine, listening to inspirational speakers and outstanding entertainment, getting to share stories and celebrate each other’s achievements.

Sometimes, it’s so funny, you can’t breathe for laughing. Karen Dunbar getting everyone up for impromptu slosh was one such occasion, and Elaine C Smith and Dorothy Paul can reduce everyone to helpless laughter within a couple of sentences.

Sometimes, the stories are so heartbreaking, they stop you in your tracks. Few people who heard Olivia Giles speak will ever forget it. The successful lawyer from Edinburgh had to have her hands and feet amputated because of meningococcal meningitis, and when she spoke of facing a choice between losing all four limbs or having her life support machine switched off, tears silently flowed.

The roll of honour for SWOTY – which we believe is the longest-running female achievement award in the UK - speaks for itself, bursting at the seams with inspirational and courageous women.

Our first winner was tireless Red Cross worker Bessie Johnson and she set the standard. In her footsteps over the decades came the formidable Bridie Connell, who championed the rights of the elderly; Glasgow grans Jean Donnachie and Noreen Real, whose relentless efforts resulted in cruel Home Office dawn raids on asylum seekers coming to an end; Ann Moulds, who overcame a terrifying ordeal to have stalking laws changed across Europe.

Tomorrow is the closing date for entries - the final shortlist will be announced within a couple of weeks and the winner will be crowned at a grand ceremony in Glasgow City Chambers on February 11.

So, if you have not yet told us about your superwoman of the past 12 months, now is the time to do it. Email swoty@eveningtimes.co.uk or place your nomination on the website www.eveningtimesevents.com/scotswoman.