A 12-year-old student from broken Hill has been awarded NSW Volunteer of the Year and NSW Young Volunteer of the Year.
Winner and Burke Ward Public School captain Abbie Kelly has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to charitable causes.
Kelly volunteers for numerous organisations such as Clean-Up Australia Day, Land Care and National Tree Planting Day.
She also volunteers at Sea Scouts, participates in local theatre productions and produces her own radio show.
Kelly said helping others was her “favourite” thing to do due to its positive impact.
“I want to be a CO of a charity or create my own charity [when I grow up],” she said.
Burke Ward Public School principal Kate Hogg said the Broken Hill community were extremely proud of Kelly.
“We are absolutely blown away,” Hogg said.
“She is one in a million and her drive is unbelievable.”
Hogg said Abbie is a naturally helpful person who look out for others since she was at kindergarten.
“She is always asking, ‘What can we do to make things better?’,” she said.
Watching students grow into community-minded citizens was part of what made teaching so special, Hogg added.
“The idea that we are building good people and the sense that the values we have in public education are being translated and taken into the community is important,” she said.
Kelly’s mother Sophie Angell said the award was a surprise.
“It’s a big shock for a 12-year-old from Broken Hill to being in the big smoke and getting this award.”
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said volunteers brought communities together.
“I congratulate Abbie who is an inspiring young woman and a very deserving recipient of this years’ Volunteer of the Year Award,” Henskens said.
Kelly will soon continue her charitable work when the Broken Hill community takes part in Abbie’s Crazy Sock Day to raise funds for Love Your Sister, a cancer research charity.
For more information on The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards visit The Centre for Volunteering website.
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