A Mandurah local who has dedicated her time to helping people in crisis has been honoured at the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. Kerrie Overell, a long-time volunteer with WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services, received the RAC WA Volunteer of the Year Award at a ceremony held at The Westin Perth on Friday, May 15.
Ms Overell said she was deeply humbled to win the award. "I didn't expect it at all," she said. "There were so many wonderful people nominated alongside me, and I would have been happy for any one of them to win."
At the charity, Ms Overell oversees volunteer recruitment and rostering, coordinates day-to-day program delivery, and works with community partners to source donations of essential items such as food, clothing, toiletries and more. Last year, she played a coordinating role across multiple initiatives, including the Healthy Breakfast Club, Refresh Showers, and the annual Christmas hamper program.
Ms Overell has volunteered since she was a teenager and said it was her greatest purpose in life. "I think it's important to show people compassion," she said. "I've always strived to do something I would hope others would do for me. If you're in a hard place, it's nice to know someone out there wants to help. My goal is to bring that compassion and respect back into society because we're losing it."
Ms Overell was nominated for the award by WestAus CEO Sandy Harvey, who praised her dedication. "You are so humble but you continue to do everything you can to assist others with the main aim of seeing a smile on their face," Ms Harvey said in her nomination video. "This award is just so well deserved. From the WestAus Crisis and Welfare Services staff and board, the Mandurah and broader Peel community, we thank you for your contributions. We are so proud to have you on our team."
Ms Overell said award ceremonies like these were important because volunteers were the backbone of many organisations and deserved recognition. "It was an honour and an eye-opener to sit among so many organisations actually out there helping others," she said. "I was blown away listening to what some of these people do. It's so encouraging to get that recognition and be able to lift each other up."
Volunteering WA CEO Tina Williams said the organisation was proud to once again host the night, celebrating the remarkable achievements of the 2026 recipients. "With so much unrest and uncertainty in the world, volunteering keeps us grounded, allowing us to focus on what we can influence and where we can truly make a difference," she said. "Each recipient exemplifies the powerful impact of kindness, in large and small ways. This year's winners show that meaningful change often begins close to home. Through their leadership, compassion and dedication, they transform the communities around them and inspire others to step forward and contribute."
