John Clary and Skye Veech named winners in the Central West Volunteer of the Year awards

The awards were presented during a ceremony at Bathurst RSL on Thursday.

Skye Veech, of the 3rd Bathurst Rover Crew, took out the award for Young Volunteer of the Year while John Clary was named Senior Volunteer of the Year for his work with the of the St John Ambulance volunteer crew.

Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the awards were highly important as they celebrated volunteers and brought further attention to the pivotal work they did in the community.

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"Volunteers build connections for people in towns and communities across the region," Ms Rygate said.

"They help to build such positive experiences and links to services across health, education and community sectors. Our ceremony today recognises their work and gives us the chance to say thank you."

Regional NSW Volunteer of the Year awards are announced at 21 ceremonies across NSW and each winner is invited to gala ceremony in Sydney to celebrate the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year.

Ms Veech discussed what volunteering means to her and the great work the 3rd Rovers are doing in the Bathurst community.

"Volunteering, to me, is very much a way to give back. I didn't have it too easy growing up and volunteering is my way to help people who are in similar situations," she said.

"Rovers is a very young organisation and we dip our toes in everything ... we are able to help a lot of different people and that's what I love about it."

Mr Clary said he was stunned to hear his name called for the award, as he is usually the one doing the nominating. For Mr Clary, volunteering for St John is in his blood.

"I've been doing this for 40 years and my grandfather was a member of St John before and during the First World War. I guess I've carried on his work," he said.

"I was very surprised to hear my name called. Every year for these awards I nominate the other St John members who do great work.

"When you live in a community you need to get involved, it's worthwhile."

Ms Veech and M. Clary were also nominated for the overall Central West Volunteer of the year award which was won by Orange Waratahs Junior Football club registrar, Joanne Sinclair.

And the St Vincent de Paul Society's St Mary's Conference was awarded the Central West 2019 Volunteer Team of the Year for the work the team does providing emergency relief for people experiencing difficulties across the region.