The Rotary Club of Cobar team was named the Orana Volunteers Team of the Year at last week’s 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards final.
Volunteers from across the Orana region were recognised for their outstanding contribution to their local community at a special virtual awards ceremony last Tuesday.
About 100 special guests, volunteers and community leaders came together for the first ever virtual event to recognise and celebrate the region’s volunteers.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering which has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.
Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 25 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony for the announcement of the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
The 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.
The Orana region winners were: Young Volunteer of the Year—Joseph McDonnell-Amatto from Dubbo SES; Adult Volunteer of the Year—Megan Hamblin, Volunteer Hub Leader at the St John Ambulance Central Western NSW division from Wongarbon; Senior Volunteer of the Year—Ron Gallagher from Dunedoo who has been the driving force behind the Dunedoo Lions Club for the past 39 years; and Volunteer Team of the Year—the Rotary Club of Cobar.
The Rotary Club of Cobar has been helping to build a healthy and well connected local community for the past 54 years.
To assist with drought relief, the group of eight volunteers provided 500 grocery packs, 340 fuel vouchers and 21 pallets of dog food for 150 local farming families during the recent devastating drought.
They also provided truckloads of fodder and emotional health support as well as support for local businesses.
NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said volunteers are the essence and flavour of regional communities.
“They’re the people raising money for vital causes, they’re there for us in terms of emergency and they’re the friend on the end of a phone breaking the cycle of isolation.
“We can’t put a price on volunteers,” Mr Ward said.
“These regional awards ceremonies are an opportunity to thank all our volunteers and to recognise the best and brightest.”
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said volunteers are the backbone of registered clubs across the state, so it was a natural fit for the industry to support such an important program.
“Volunteers from across NSW have continued to give of their time and effort to help others, while facing so much adversity from bushfires, drought and the impacts of COVID-19.
“I’m proud to represent an industry where 32,000 volunteers help to make clubs such great places.”
