Griffith’s Pat Zandona has been recognised as the 2025 Riverina Volunteer of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
A knitter in Griffith, who started knitting beanies and scarves because she did not want to wear a wig following her cancer diagnosis, has been named the 2025 Riverina Volunteer of the Year.
Pat Zandona founded the Griffith Trauma Teddies Knitter’s Group after finding out that Griffith did not have a Red Cross knitting group, and was recognised at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony at Wagga RSL.
Trauma teddies are hand-knitted or crocheted symbols of care and support for children experiencing illness, injuries or other crises. The Australian Red Cross distributes these teddy bears to hospitals, emergency services and other organisations that work with children.
The knitter’s group has 30 members and has knitted 3000 trauma teddies, which were sent by the Red Cross to local health services, neighbouring towns and even overseas to children in the war-torn Gaza strip.
Aside from knitting bear-shaped symbols of comfort, Pat and her team also turn donated and recycled wool into knitted blankets for local aged care facilities and the Griffith Cancer Care Unit.
The awards, hosted by the Centre for Volunteering, have been celebrating and supporting volunteering across NSW for almost two decades.
Other recipients were also recognised for individual or team effort.
Wagga high school student Ariba Omar, who volunteered as a Youth Week Ambassador for Wagga Wagga City Council and as a Country Women’s Association Wagga Branch member, was recognised as Riverina Young Volunteer of the Year.
She is also on the student representative council at her school and is a Sun-Safety Ambassador and member of the NSW Cancer Council Youth Advisory group.
The Carevan Kitchen Team – a team of volunteers who create meals for people throughout the region – was also recognised as the Riverina Volunteer Team of the Year. The volunteers deliver more than 500 meals each week via Carevan Wagga’s nightly service to local community hubs.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said in difficult times, volunteers often came forward to meet a crisis with compassion.
“Volunteers are the quiet force, whether helping ease cost of living pressures, supporting those in crisis or responding on the front line of floods, fires and emergencies,” Ms Rygate said.
“Their dedication is admirable and underpins a more resilient and compassionate society. These exceptional individuals give selflessly – often while juggling careers, study, and family life – yet they still choose to show up for others when it matters most.”
NSW Minister with responsibility for Volunteering Jodie Harrison called the regional nominees and award recipients “heroes of their communities”.
“Thank you for your ongoing contributions, which make NSW the best state to live and work in,” Ms Harrison said.
“These awards are an important way we recognise your passion and dedication to your local communities.
“The NSW Government is continuing to work with The Centre for Volunteering to build a more diverse and inclusive volunteering sector so that all our volunteers feel respected and acknowledged for their work.”
Twenty-five regional ceremonies are held in towns and suburbs throughout NSW from mid-August until November.
Award recipients will represent their region in a gala state ceremony in Sydney in December, where the NSW Volunteer of the Year across different categories will be announced.
