One of a great sense of community spirit.

In the modern era of instant gratification and 'what's-in-it-for-me', all the nominees in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Australia Day have selflessly given time and energy for others.

Nominees included a string of heroes in yellow, the local Rural Fire Service volunteers who have spent months on the frontline trying to limit the damage from some of the most ferocious bushfires in living memory.

There were nominees from all walks of life and interests, including Judy Rumble who takes it upon herself to walk along Lake Road picking up rubbish people carelessly throw out their car and the Taking Point Lions Club who have helped set up a Koala Smart program that will be rolled out in schools across the state.

Others included Leonie Heath, who is a saviour for the animal kingdom working with the Port Macquarie Animal welfare Service Inc for the last 12 years.

You can't self nominate for the awards so it takes someone else in the community thinking highly enough of you, your work and your actions to make the time and effort to fill out the form.

I would encourage every resident or community group to consider nominating someone for the 2021 awards.

They say it is a wonderful achievement just to be nominate and I fully agree.

No volunteer does what they do for recognition or status. They do it because they want to make a difference, to help someone or to positively impact the community in some way.

And this year our local winners are all extraordinary in their own way.

The Rotary Club of Wauchope through past president Reg Pierce and Rotary Australia World Community Service have distributed over $1.8 million in money for drought relief.

Brittany Daly served in the Australian Defence Force and has been a volunteer RFS member since 2009 before going viral in 2019 for her dance at her fire station during the height of our local fires.

Someone said 'volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they are priceless' and that is so true.

As a volunteer, I am heavily involved in Hastings Rotaract and work closely with the five Rotary Clubs in the Hastings to host events and fundraisers to help others. I am also part of the Luminosity Youth Summit committee and I am fully invested to help make a difference to the youth in our region.

In the best of times and in the worst of times we see communities band together for the sake of each other.

Over the last few months community groups across the country have unified donating time, money, equipment and themselves to our fire efforts.

Though in many cases the fires have been tragic we are also seeing the best of the community.

The volunteers on the front line and running evacuation centres. The volunteers collecting food and house items. The volunteers on helplines ready to be a listening voice. And the volunteers who are hosting fundraisers to donate to fire causes.

We are a country of having your mate's back and doing things for others just because we can.

And for that we should be proud.

Laura Telford was a nominee for the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council 2020 Australia Day awards in the category of Young Citizen of the Year.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.

If you value local journalism, continue to support us and consider taking out a subscription. CLICK HERE for a 30-day free trial.