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 Southern Inland Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2025 Southern Inland Volunteer of the Year
Trailblazing NSW RFS Captain Abby McPherson has been awarded the 2025 Southern Inland Volunteer of the Year for her leadership, innovation and commitment to saving lives and building community resilience.
2025 Southern Inland Adult Volunteer of the Year
Abby McPherson
Michelago Brigade Captain Abby McPherson is the first female RFS captain for the region and she treats her volunteer duties as if they were a full-time role. She has been the driving force in saving lives and protecting property through smart, modern firefighting strategies and new technology, as well as problem-solving under pressure, going above and beyond to ensure the safety and resilience of her local community during times of crisis. A respected local leader, her outreach has helped grow the service’s volunteer team and inspired people of all ages to join, securing the brigade’s future.
2025 Southern Inland Senior Volunteer of the Year
Adolf Franco
Adolf is a dedicated, long-serving member of the Snowy River and Alpine Search & Rescue team, part of the NSW State Emergency Services which responds to emergencies at all hours, from road crashes to alpine rescues. His expert search skills have been critical in remote land and marine rescues, and his commitment to training and team development has strengthened local emergency response across the region. With 14 years of service, including as Deputy Commander, Adolf also volunteers with Alpine Lakes Marine Rescue and the Berridale Rural Fire Service.
2025 Southern Inland Emergency Volunteer of the Year
Richard Alley
Nineteen-year-old carpenter Richard Alley became the youngest Captain in the Southern Tablelands Zone of the NSW Rural Fire Service. He’s packed in an extraordinary amount of service in the eight years since then, including training, mentoring and emergency response. Richard is not only a skilled chainsaw operator, winning first place at the 2024 RFS State Championships, but he also gives his time playing the euphonium with the Yass Valley Concert Band.
2025 Southern Inland Volunteer Team of the Year
Terry Campese Foundation Youth Mentoring 2025 Tonga Team
The youth mentoring team at The Terry Campese Foundation supports at-risk youth from Goulburn, Crookwell, Braidwood, Queanbeyan and the ACT. Many of the 32 participants come from challenging backgrounds, including foster care, broken homes, and those with addiction and mental health struggles. The team helps build resilience through physical challenges and community service, including ANZAC Day cooking, fundraisers, and helping the elderly. A recent trip to Tonga saw participants help build a library and sports court – an experience designed to further transform their lives.
2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
