Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

Everyone knows volunteers are the glue that holds communities together. As we speak, the finals of the New South Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards are being held. I've got some great finalists who are contesting that today. The Adult Volunteer of the Year for the Orana region is Bruce McDermaid, who's a justice advocate. The Senior Volunteer of the Year for the Orana region is Janice Stanford, who's a great long-serving member of the CWA. The Volunteer Team of the Year for the Orana region is the Rotary Club of Narromine.

Out in the Far West, the Young Volunteer of the Year, Abbie Kelly, from Broken Hill, is an environmentalist, lobbyist, fundraiser, performer and volunteer and is only 12 years of age. St John Ambulance and SES volunteer joint finalists are Shane Webb and Trevor Murphy from Broken Hill. They do a great job looking after the community through their work with the SES and St John Ambulance. The Senior Volunteer of the Year is Meals on Wheels volunteer Fay Rolton from Broken Hill. Fay has been a long-time volunteer delivering meals to old and vulnerable people in Broken Hill. The Volunteer Team of the Year are the 61 volunteers who run the kiosk at the Broken Hill hospital. Over the years, they've raised $1.7 million towards funding the Broken Hill hospital.

Volunteers are so important in communities, and I'm pleased that these fine people have been recognised today

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