The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now in their 20th year and celebrate the work of thousands of individuals and volunteer teams from a diverse range of organisations across the state.
Congratulations to the 2026 Award winners for the Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2026 Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year
Dignity Dishes volunteer and homelessness services advocate Lea Lloyd has been named the 2026 Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year, for her tireless work to protect people from the impacts of hunger and homelessness across the region.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2026 Mid North Coast Young Volunteer of the Year
Lilly De Belle
Uni student Lilly De Belle is a rescue watercraft operator, assistant trainer, fundraiser and public relations officer with Marine Rescue NSW at Port Macquarie.
She gives her time to keep the boating community safe on the water and informed of conditions and operations, as well as training new recruits and raising money to support the unit’s operations.
2026 Mid North Coast Adult Volunteer of the Year
Lea Lloyd
Lea helped establish the Mid North Coast arm of the homelessness support organisation Dignity Dishes, providing free, nutritious meals to people facing financial hardship or at risk of homelessness.
She has also been the Club Secretary for Sunrise Rotary for more than seven years, where she manages club administration, membership records, meeting minutes, and liaises with other organisations.
2026 Mid North Coast Senior Volunteer of the Year
Gary White
Gary has been a leading volunteer at Marine Rescue NSW Port Macquarie for more than a decade, performing hundreds of rescues, mentoring many colleagues and managing multiple radio bases.
His extensive volunteer work includes flood and fire liaison with other emergency and defence force organisations, as well as operating rescue craft and leading training activity.
2026 Mid North Coast Emergency Volunteer of the Year
BlazeAid Mid Coast Flood Response
Bob and Lisa Abdoo led the BlazeAid Mid Coast Flood Response team, helping 179 farmers to recover from the devasting impacts of the 2025 floods that hit the region.
They set up at the Bulahdelah BlazeAid Basecamp, coordinating a group of 300 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to provide fencing, infrastructure repair and recovery support to local farmers and the community.
They managed the equivalent of 5,700 days of volunteer work, helping to rebuild 260 km of fencing across 125 farms and allowing a return to productive farming.
2026 Mid North Coast Volunteer Team of the Year
The Community Transport Company Volunteer Team
The 220 members of the Toormina based North Coast Community Transport Company Volunteer Team provide essential transport services for vulnerable groups across the region.
Their volunteer work ensures people can attend lifesaving health care appointments like dialysis, oncology treatments, specialist appointments and other essential healthcare.
They ensure their clients can complete their shopping and participate in social activity or overnight appointments, helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness.
2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
