Cobar’s Gordon Hill was named the Overall winner of the Orana Region NSW Volunteer of the Year awards at a special ceremony in Dubbo yesterday.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual event run by The Centre for Volunteering and is the biggest celebration of volunteering across the country to recognise the outstanding contributions of our
volunteers.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers have made an enormous contribution to the local community.
“Volunteers from across the area give their time helping in schools, hospitals, for sporting clubs, the environment, and with so many community based organisations,” Ms Rygate said.
“They all give so much without asking for anything in return.
“It was so pleasing to recognise their outstanding efforts and also celebrate the special contribution of the volunteers chosen to represent the region in November at the State Final of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.”
At yesterday’s ceremony, Gordon was also named the Senior Volunteer of the Year.
Ms Rygate said Gordon was selected as the NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year and overall NSW Volunteer of the Year for the region for his 40 years of service to the SES supporting the local community during emergencies and times of need.
“Gordon has been an exceptional rescuer at the Cobar Unit as well a dedicated trainer and assessor,” she said.
Other winners yesterday included: Zac Cherry (Deputy Superintendent of the St Johns Ambulance Orana Division), named the NSW Young Volunteer of the Year for the region; Samuel Swain (a volunteer at Taronga Western Plains Zoo) who was the NSW Adult Volunteer of the Year for the Orana region; and the Beyond Barbed Wire Volunteer Mentors who were selected as the NSW Volunteer Team of the Year for the Orana region for the Banardos-run program for female prisoners at the Wellington Correctional Centre both during and after their incarceration.
NSW Minister responsible for Volunteering, the Hon. Ray Williams, said the state’s 2.1 million volunteers contributed more than $5 billion to the NSW economy every year.
“Nominating local volunteers for an award or a certificate is a special way of saying thank you,” Mr Williams said.
“The fact that so many nominations were received this year is recognition of the amazing effort of volunteers across NSW who help build stronger communities.”
