THE best of the best in volunteering was recognised across the region with Pay it Forward Community Shed Orange founder Karlene Irwin receiving the top honour.
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The annual awards are run by The Centre for Volunteering and acknowledge the work of the 112,000 volunteers across NSW.
Awards were presented across five categories on Thursday, including: young volunteer, adult volunteer, senior volunteer, volunteer team and overall regional winner.
There were 420 finalists from across the region.
During the award ceremony Ms Irwin was awarded the Adult Volunteer of the Year and then also scored the event’s top volunteering nod of Volunteer of the Year Regional Winner.
Pay it Forward Community Shed Orange has been running for less than three years, but in that has already helped more than 4000 people across the Central West.
Ms Irwin said she was shocked to have been recognised with both awards.
“I was genuinely shocked, I think that you look at the amazing people in our community and our state and what those people are doing, I didn’t think that we were doing anything that was any more special that what every single other volunteer and organisation does,” she said.
“I volunteer full-time, sometimes six days-a-week, sometimes seven, it just depends what’s going on for the charity and what’s going on for the community.”
Pay it forward run a range of diverse initiatives including homeless programs, assisting domestic violence victims and drought relief for farmers. It is also a Work Development Order sponsor and is an approved work for the dole organisation.
“Anything from food support to lawn mowing programs to assist those in our low socio-economic communities in efforts to reduce eviction,” Ms Irwin said.
Other award winners included Anne Hopwood who received the Senior Volunteer of the Year Award for her time with FoodCare Orange.
The Neighbourhood Centre Driver Supervisor Team in Bathurst was awarded the Volunteer Team of the Year.
The Young Volunteer of the Year Award went to Elise Dukes for her services to the Forbes Youth Action Team.
Regional winners will now go on to compete at the state finals.
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
