Marine Rescue Narooma volunteer Gillian Kearney has been named the South Coast Adult winner in the 2023 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Ms Kearney was presented with the award at the South Coast Regional ceremony in Merimbula today.
Marine Rescue NSW Southern Zone Commander Mike Hammond said Ms Kearney has been volunteering with the Narooma unit for more than six years where she has held a variety of positions and is a rated Radio Operator and Watch Officer.
“Gilly makes a huge contribution to our Marine Rescue unit at Narooma and to our organisation more broadly helping out with protocol.
“She has been a volunteer not only for our organisation but for other volunteer organisations and has served for a long time.
“We’re very proud to have her in our unit,” Southern Zone Commander Hammond said.
Image: (LtoR) Marine Rescue Merimbula Unit Commander Bill Blakeman, Marine Rescue Merimbula Deputy Unit Commander Sonia Teston, Gillian Kearney Marine Rescue Narooma and Marine Rescue NSW Southern Zone Commander Mike Hammond
Marine Rescue Eden member Nancy Weatherman (Senior Volunteer of the Year) and the Marine Rescue Merimbula unit (Volunteer Team of the Year) were also recognised today as nominees in their respective categories.
Southern Zone Commander Hammond congratulated Ms Weatherman and the Merimbula unit for their efforts and highlighted the importance of celebrating volunteering.
“It was a wonderful day recognising volunteers not only from Marine Rescue NSW but many organisations that are active in our communities and the wonderful people that are serving in all kinds of ways,” he said.
Ms Kearney will now attend 2023 NSW Volunteer of the Year Gala Ceremony in Sydney on 7 December.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
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