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 South Coast Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2026 South Coast Volunteer of the Year
Bega Women’s Resource Centre volunteer Yvonne Cole has been named 2026 South Coast Volunteer of the Year, for her creative contributions and active hands-on support for the victims of gender-based violence.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2026 South Coast Adult Volunteer of the Year
Yvonne Cole
Yvonne volunteers with the Southern Women’s Group, where she uses her own artistic flare, culinary skills, and a dose of hard work to support women who are victims of gender-based violence.
She runs cooking, art and craft workshops, bakes hundreds of cupcakes, creates felt flowers, grows flowers for table decorations, cooks BBQs, and helps with building renovations and transport for workshop participants. Yvonne volunteers through the group’s Bega Women’s Resource Centre, helping to reduce social isolation, increase community participation and build confidence for women.
2026 South Coast Senior Volunteer of the Year
Vera Clark
Vera has volunteered with the Eden Community Access Centre for over 15 years, supporting digital inclusion, producing a local community newsletter, and running outreach programs across the Bega Valley.
She is a long‑standing Centrelink Volunteer, helping community members navigate complex government systems and online requirements, and an ATO‑trained volunteer, completing tax returns for community members who can’t access commercial tax services.
2026 South Coast Emergency Volunteer of the Year
Marine Rescue NSW Merimbula Women in Search & Rescue
Sonia Teston, Caron Parfitt and Olivia Ford are all qualified vessel masters and highly committed volunteers with the Merimbula Unit of Marine Rescue NSW. The team run a three-day professional development workshop and on-water exercises for female marine rescue volunteers, helping to boost female participation, confidence and inclusivity, as well as improving organisational culture.
All three also train and mentor other volunteers, while providing frontline rescue services for the boating community across the South Coast.
2026 South Coast Volunteer Team of the Year
Community Connect South Shoalhaven
The six members of the Community Connect South Shoalhaven volunteer team support not-for-profit and volunteer groups in Milton, Ulladulla and surrounding villages across the NSW South Coast. They provide hands-on support, such as leadership and governance training, grant writing, strategic planning and an annual youth engagement program with strong ties to Ulladulla High School.
The team also connects volunteers with service providers, businesses, schools and TAFE, as well as organising an annual community expo.
2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
