SCOTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: Mary and John are working to relieve suffering in Zimbabwe

But the desperate situation there has not deterred Mary Miller, our first nomination for Scotswoman of the Year.

She is one determined - and brave - woman.

Accompanied by her husband, the Very Reverend Dr John Miller - the former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland - Mary has been living and working at an HIV/Aids hospital at Murambinda, Zimbabwe, for more than a year.

The couple are currently 160miles apart after John, who retired in summer 2007 from his Glasgow parish at Castlemilk East Church, was refused a work permit to help congregations in the Mutare area.

Mary has been helping set up a dedicated service for children and adolescents with HIV/Aids in Murambinda Hospital and in Harare.

She is a woman with a passion for helping children.

"From the day and hour I fell in love with my own first baby, I have loved children and wanted to make their lives as good as possible," she says.

Today, thousands of children and their mums in Castlemilk owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to Mary.

Three decades ago, Mary, then a mum of three young children and a qualified medical social worker, became one of the founding volunteers of what they called the Jeely Piece Club, While working at the Jeely, Mary qualified as a play therapist so she would have the expertise to help children and families with major problems.

She set up a project training Glasgow nursery staff and, later, parents in basic play therapy techniques to help children, many with substance abusing parents, who were struggling in nursery.

Over the years, the club has become a major focal point of life in Castlemilk, with a nursery, cafe and also an innovative range of support, activities and learning and training services to parents, carers and small businesses.

"Like very many women, all I have really ever done is respond to situations around me," she shrugs, although she is willing to admit to one achievement.

"I feel I was be able to leave the Jeely as director in 2007 having made sure it would carry on and go from strength to strength.

"Our motto is By the people for the people', and when I left they gave me a gold bracelet with that motto inscribed on the back."

Castlemilk could be a challenging place but, for 36 years, she supported John in his determination to make his home among his parishioners.

In 1994, she was a peace monitor and election observer at the first South African democratic elections. In 2006 she returned to South Africa for a few months as an overseas adviser to help local churches setting up a violence prevention and peace building programme in KwaZulu Natal.

When her daughter Anna went to Zimbabwe in 2000 to work as a doctor, Mary visited her and became involved in raising funds through a small, UK-based charity, the Friends of Murambinda Hospital.

"People from all levels in Glasgow have given with amazing generosity to this charity in recent years.

"In the current crisis in Zimbabwe the Friends' are keeping the hospital going and patients are struggling to get to it from all over the country."

SCOTS BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: Chinese adore Rita's invention

When Rita Rusk's revolutionary invention, the Wire, hit the streets of China this year, the label said Made in Scotland'.

The Chinese love goods made in this country and can't get enough of the product.

"Something made in China doesn't have the same impact over there," says Rita. "They love designer names."

This year, she sent 10,000 of the clever devices to China. The Wire works like a brush with spirals rather than bristles, adding body to fine hair without the need for rollers, back-combing or lots of foam or gel.

"Now Korea and Japan are looking at it too," says Rita. "I think it will be big."

It is the latest invention from the woman who started snipping hair in Hamilton and became an international name in hairdressing.

Rita, 60, the first woman to be named British Hairdresser of the Year, is always at the cutting edge. Her skills as a hair artist and entrepreneur have earned her a global career, lots of money, and a reputation as Scotland's queen of hairdressing.

She has been named Best Hairdresser In The World by the French fashion magazine Metamorphose four times.

Rita, brought up in Castlemilk as one of a family of 10, has been a Scottish phenomenon since she started in hairdressing as an eager 17-year-old.

"I have always thought beyond the hairdressing salon," says Rita, who lives in the West End with her husband, lawyer Brian Dorman. " I always wanted to reach the top."

Back in 1974, she invented two new kinds of scissors. "I took them to Las Vegas and turned over $300,000 in two days. That's several million pounds in today's money," she says proudly.

Her big invention in the 80s was the first flat hair iron or hair straightener. "But I couldn't get a patent so I sold it to Babyliss and let them do it."

Rita set up an international hairdressing training school and now runs an events business and line of jewellery, as well as a hairdressing salon in Great Western Road, Glasgow.

She also runs the world's first futuristic, hi-tech hair and beauty cyber salon in Hamilton.

As a member of the Entrepreneurial Exchange, Rita hopes her experience will inspire other Scottish companies to make inroads into the Chinese market.

SCOTS SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: Golden girl Kirsty sets her sights on Olympics

What a year it's been for Milton of Campsie triathlete Kirsty McWilliam.

She cycled, swam and ran her way to Gold in the World Junior Championships in Vancouver in June (she had come seventh in the 2007 championships).

In May, she powered her way to Silver in the ETU European Championships in Portugal.

This autumn, she picked up the Glasgow Young Sportsperson of the Year award.

And of course, in April, Kirsty was the only Scots athlete to be selected by the British Olympic Association to join 80 torchbearers carrying the 2008 Olympic Flame across London.

"I was so excited to be doing it, but it was a scary experience with so many protesters," she admits, referring to the demonstrations about China's human rights record.

Of her gold in Canada, she says: "That was unexpected. I'd been ill and had just got back to training 10 days before the race. Nothing could compare with that feeling when I crossed the line."

Kirsty's rise to the top has been swift. She joined Glasgow Triathlon Club when she was 13 and has never looked back.

So far as the European Championships are concerned, she says: "That was annoying. I think I could have won, but there was rain on the cobbles and I fell twice and lost by 10 seconds. Still, in the World event, I thrashed the girl who won the European (Emmie Charayron, of France) and that made up for it."

Kirsty, who is currently in her first year at Stirling University studying animal biology, hopes for a career in research.

And at university, all the training facilities she needs are just a five minute walk away.

"I just love winning," she says happily.

Kirsty has her sights set on the London Olympics in 2012 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"I'll still only be 22 and 24 when they come up and I'd love to compete in both."