Windellama resident Graham Kinder has been recognised for his selfless service to the community.
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The emergency service volunteer, mentor and trainer is the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year for the Southern Inland region.
Mr Kinder was nominated for the award by his colleagues at the Australia Vietnam Business Council.
"The award is for the whole community. I am just one representative out of thousands of volunteers who prioritise service to the community ahead of their own personal interest. For me, this award belongs to all those who have done that," he said.
The NSW Adult Volunteer of the Year has dedicated more than 20 years to volunteering across the emergency services and social support sector in his local community and across all corners of NSW.
The volunteering veteran gives his time with the Windellama unit of the NSW SES as well as the South Eastern, Metro and Manly Units.
He is also the District Training Coordinator for the NSW RFS, supports the Windellama Landcare Group, the Australian Vietnamese Business Council and is the Emergency Services Group Coordinator for the Salvation Army.
"I could not have done anything without the support of my wife and daughters. It is critical for me to go out and serve in other roles," he said.
Around 22 years, he started his journey as a volunteer with the Windellama Rural Fire Brigade, where he is one of the deputy captains. He has been volunteering with State Emergency Services (SES) for 11 years and is now a unit commander.
"We were new to the community when I started volunteering with the RFS. The aim was to make a contribution to the community, so I started volunteering with them," the 62-year-old said.
"Good leadership and mentorship at the time motivated one to turn up for training and encouraged to move from one level of training to another.
"The encouragement to develop personally and professionally was always there."
Reminiscing about last season, in which communities were impacted by the devastating bushfires, he felt proud to be an Australian.
"We had members of RFS, SES, Salvation Army Emergency services, all our colleagues across volunteering communities working together with a common goal to protect their communities. Our community came together with a common goal - to look after one another," he said.
Mr Kinder encourages youths to volunteer, calling it a "rewarding experience".
"Volunteering is rewarding as one gains new skills and meets like-minded fellow citizens. There is a genuine sense of personal achievement and satisfaction when you complete an emergency task and have been helpful in saving lives and protecting properties," the Windellama resident said.
Graham Kinder is one of the volunteers from the Southern Inland region of the state who were recognised for their outstanding contribution to their local community at a special virtual ceremony for the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.
About 100 special guests, volunteers and community leaders came together for the first ever virtual event to recognise and celebrate the region's volunteers.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering which has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.
Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 25 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony for the announcement of the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
The 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, which represents the state's 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.
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