NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards recognize regional community leaders

The Centre for Volunteering has announced the 2026 regional winners for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, celebrating individuals across the Illawarra and Southern Sydney regions.

In the Illawarra region, Vivienne Marris of Jamberoo was named both the 2026 Illawarra Volunteer of the Year and the Illawarra Senior Volunteer of the Year. Marris has supported over 15 community groups, including the Country Women’s Association, the NSW Cancer Council, and the Red Cross. Other Illawarra recipients include Uthman Farache as Young Volunteer of the Year and Scout Davis as Adult Volunteer of the Year.

In Southern Sydney, Bill Manning was named the 2026 Southern Sydney Adult Volunteer of the Year for his long-term work with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and the Krazy Kosci Klimb event. Sunny Liu received the Southern Sydney Young Volunteer of the Year award for her service with the Australian Army Cadets and Lifeline. Paul Quinn was recognized as the Southern Sydney Senior Volunteer of the Year for his work at Calvary Health Care Kogarah.