Team Orana are a showcase of volunteering excellence

Communities across the wide expanse of the Orana region are connected via the relentless efforts of their volunteers. From emergency services, drought & bushfire relief and healthcare to the sporting fields and the arts – Orana’s volunteers have it all covered.

We were honoured to take the time today to send our thanks down the line at the Orana virtual ceremony for the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Special congratulations to our award winners; 20 year-old Dubbo SES deputy chief Joseph McDonnell-Amatto, St John Ambulance and all-round volunteer Megan Hamblin, Dunedoo’s everywhere man Ron Gallagher and the unrelenting volunteering legends from the Rotary Club of Cobar.

The 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year for the Orana region is Megan Hamblin, St Johns Ambulance Central West Hub leader and volunteer at numerous community based organisations.

2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Orana region are:

Young Volunteer of the Year – Joseph McDonnell-Amatto from Dubbo  

At 20 years of age Joseph is one the state’s youngest Deputy Unit Commanders at the NSW SES. He’s on call 24/7 at his Dubbo Unit, ready to perform lifesaving search and rescue operations for the local community, while holding down two jobs and training one night a week.  

Adult Volunteer of the Year – Megan Hamblin from Wongarbon

Megan is the Volunteer Hub Leader at the St John Ambulance Central Western NSW division– giving hundreds of hours each year to provide vital first aid and public health services at dozens of community based events. She is also the Secretary of the Dubbo District Deaf Club, a member of the Dubbo SES and the 2020 Dubbo Citizen of the Year.

Senior Volunteer of the Year – Ron Gallagher from Dunedoo

Ron has been the driving force behind the Dunedoo Lions Club for the past 39 years. He has been at the heart of so many local community groups and causes – from Dunedoo Rugby League, swimming and sports clubs – as well as the Arts Unlimited event and Kahkama House – a hostel in Dunedoo for aging community members.

Volunteer Team of the Year – Rotary Club of Cobar Volunteers

The Rotary Club of Cobar has been helping to build a healthy and well connected local community for the past 54 years. The eight volunteer team members have helped to provide 500 grocery packs, 340 fuel vouchers and 21 pallets of dog food for 150 local farming families during the recent devastating drought. They have provide food parcels, truckloads of fodder and emotional health support as well as support for local businesses.

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.