An awards ceremony on Tuesday recognised the quiet heroes who would lend a helping hand when needed.
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The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering.
Soccer and Australian Rules player Kai Watts turned a park kick around with a couple of newly arrived Yazidi refugee children into a regular training run.
He was soon joined by more than 50 Yazidi children, who have become the latest recruits at local clubs throughout the city.
His kind acts have helped bring two very different communities together, earning him the Riverina NSW 2019 Young Volunteer of the Year award.
"They were new to Australia, they did not know any English and so mum and I went around to help them get out into the community," Kai said.
"I had no what they had been through and the hard life they had been living.
"I was working with them for a year before I moved to Sydney and now every time I come down I catch up with them."
Saba Nabi was awarded the NSW 2019 Adult Volunteer of the Year Award and overall Riverina NSW 2019 Volunteer of the Year for her tireless efforts supporting health, education, sporting and multicultural services across the region.
The Riverina NSW 2019 Senior Volunteer of the Year Philip Cooper divides his volunteering hours between the local SES, RFS and now St John Ambulance services.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers from across the region had given so much to the local community.
"Your volunteers build connections for people in towns and communities across the region," she said.
"They help to build such positive experiences and links to services across health, education and community sectors.
"Our ceremony recognises their work and allows us to say thank you."
Volunteer finalists are chosen from 21 regions in to represent their area at a state ceremony held in Sydney later in the year where the NSW Volunteer of Year winners are announced.