The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now in their 19th year and celebrate the work of thousands of individuals and volunteer teams from a diverse range of organisations across the state.
Congratulations to the 2025 Award winners for the North Shore Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2025 North Shore Volunteer of the Year
A leading advocate for the Gidget Foundation Marcelle Cooper has been named the 2025 North Shore Volunteer of the Year, for her work raising awareness and support for parents suffering with perinatal depression and anxiety.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2025 North Shore Young Volunteer of the Year
William Webster
William is a crucial cog in the planning and delivery of events for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. His volunteer work includes setting up and delivering equipment for the hospital based events, logistics, on the ground support, packing up, and supporting fundraising.
2025 North Shore Adult Volunteer of the Year
Marcelle Cooper
Marcelle volunteers with the Gidget Foundation Australia, sharing her story of living with perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA) with expectant and new parents. Her speaking and engagement helps raise awareness of the support and specialist services available for parents and families suffering with this treatable illness. Her compelling and passionate words have helped to reach more than 6 million viewers on media and social media channels for the Gidget Foundation and PNDA.
2025 North Shore Senior Volunteer of the Year
Garry Standen
Garry gives his time to support the People and Culture team at Taronga Zoo by designing and building elearning and staff recognition programs. His volunteer work over the past seven years has also included administrative work for the volunteer team at the zoo.
2025 North Shore Emergency Volunteer of the Year
Sally Fenton
Sally helps lead the cadet program at St John Ambulance Australia Harborside Combined Division where cadet attendance has experienced a threefold increase under her guidance. She has provided more than 860 duty hours developing training material, leading live sessions including interactive simulations and collaborative exercises that encourage cadets to think critically and work as a team.
2025 North Shore Volunteer Team of the Year
Mary’s House Services Volunteer Team
The 100 volunteers at Mary’s House Services provide day to day support to ensure women and their children staying at the refuge receive the help and care they need during this difficult period of their lives. They provide child minding for clients when they are seeing counsellors or attending legal and financial clinics. They also help with cleaning, laundry, gardening, collecting groceries and donated meals, as well as grant writing, marketing and public relations; and organising community programs.
2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
