The Newcastle Herald hasbeen honoured to share stories throughout this year of those giving back in heartfelt, courageous and surprising ways.
Now it's your turn to decide who will receive the Hunter Hero Award for 2019.
From the 13-year-old student who volunteers in memory of her friend, to the off-duty firefighter who rescued children from a flaming car, the retiree saving a river and the Wallsend resident acting as grandmother to an entire school - all the nominees below are worthy of recognition.
Head to our website by 5pm on Saturday to vote.
The winner will be selected by a panel of judges from the 12 nominees who receive the most votes. The finalists will be announced next Monday.
January
January 14: Bernie Viemeier
A former RAAF airman and postman Bernier Viemeier daylights as Captain America, leading a superhero squad that visits children in hospital.
January 21: Joshua Dick
Builder and volunteer surf lifesaver volunteer who patrols Newcastle's coastline of jet ski and is a Hunter region duty officer.
January 28: Rachel Henshaw
Another Sunrise's Rachel Henshaw runs Shan Ling Great Wall Marathon to raise money for suicide prevention.
February
February 4: Mike Pierpont
Former chief engineer and master skipper for Port Stephen's Marine Rescue volunteers his services to boaters for 16 years.
February 11: Kerrie Turner
A Lochinvar local raises almost $10,000 for breast cancer research on behalf of her friend of 15 years.
February 18: John and Ellen Kilpatrick
This husband and wife team have been volunteering for multiple Hunter organisations, some for more than 40 years.
February 25: Bec Tansey
This Black Hill resident founded and moderates an online community of 13,000 women called Newcastle Hunter Mums.
March
March 4: Kerriann Dunn
Lake Macquarie's Citizen of the Year involved in Morisset High School's P&C, Southlake Marketplace, Community Hair Project and the area's Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.
March 11: Berryl Tobin
The 90-year-old local golfing champion and community leader who is still encouraging residents young and old to get out on the green.
March 18: Tom McLoughlin and Dough Buchanan
The "Average Joes" starting conversations about men's mental health and well-being.
March 25: Robert and Emil Dan
Newcastle lung disease patient and his pharmacist cousin fight to combat respiratory disease.
April
April 1: Catherine Conaghan
Case worker for Karumah Positive Living Centre supports Hunter residents with HIV.
April 8: Ben Swift
Recipient of a Commendation for Brave Conduct after he saved three children at a petrol station fire in New Lambton.
April 15: Stephen Dewer
Member of Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group has pushed the campaign to reduce reliance on single-use items in the area.
April 22: Rachel Kerrigan
Afghanistan war veteran guides returned service people to health.
April 29: Suzanne Clark Pitrolo
Cancer survivor enables other cancer patients to get active with not-for-profit gym.
May
May 6: Sally Crockett
Son inspires mother's for a search for a cure to Prader-Willi Syndrome.
May 13: Stuart Carter
This 71-year-old leads a community discussion group about mourning, death and dying.
May 20: Carolyn Comyns
A Shortland resident running a community group for people suffering from autoimmune diseases.
May 27: Hannah Glassey
Seven-year-old scout collects disused toys so other children can play too.
June
June 3: Burt Kennedy
34-year-old runs 544 kilometres to raise money for Fight MND on behalf of friends Matt and Jodie Bell.
June 10: De-anne Douglas
The Muswellbrook PCYC manager is on a personal mission to fund a cuddle cot for the region.
June 17: Vilma Hunter
This 88-year-old has been volunteering in the region's hospitals since 1958, and that's not all.
June 24: Vicki and Brock Mendyk
Mother and son speak out about mental health after losing two loved-ones to suicide.
July
July 1: Jeanette Lacey
Jeanette Lacey helped found Newcastle's Compassionate Communities group, caring for people in their darkest time.
July 8: Wendy Robinson
Mother writes book to guide other parents through children's cancer journeys.
July 15: Vicki McKinnon
Grandmother creates trauma teddies to help children through their scariest experiences.
July 22: Maud Styles
98-year-old knits dog jackets and blankets for Dog Rescue Newcastle.
July 29: Kathy Prior
Former midwife and teacher recognised for her work as a Lifeline telephone crisis support volunteer.
August
August 5: Brett Lovett
Rutherford paramedic has been coming to the rescue for almost four decades.
August 12: Nicole Gerrard and Emma Blundell
Aunt and niece team behind project to help children in oncology wards.
August 19: Charlestown Meals on Wheels team
The service has been providing freshly made meals to the community for half a decade.
August 26: Abdelfattah Ben Romdhane
Tunisian migrant stepped in at the last minute to coach his son's soccer team.
September
September 2: David Douglas
This 27-year-old is the commander of Port Stephen's SES unit and is always on-call to help in a rescue.
September 9: Elaine Roberts
A Wallsend resident has acted as grandmother to an entire school for almost two decades.
September 16: Michelle Faithfull
Bar Beach resident and trek leader raises $175,000 for charity over 10 years.
September 23: Tony Milburn
Hunter volunteer of the year saves imperfect farm produce to be turned into meals for people in need.
September 30: Roz Holme
Wildlife volunteer treats wombats suffering from mange.
October
October 7: Gordon Grainger
The Port Stephens retiree on a mission to save his local waterways.
October 14: Luke Alexander, Ben Hamilton, Kelsey Moss, Dan Byatt and Duncan Sandie
Mates walk overnight to Central Coast Stadium to raise money for their friend's medical bills and rehabilitation treatment.
October 21: Melanie-Bree Watts and Prue Hurt
Neonatal intensive care nurses raise $130k for bubs at risk.
October 28: Renee Schofield
Keen runner uses the spirit of Christmas to support children at Ronald McDonald House.
November
November 4: Megan Baird
Charlestown's Megan Baird is fulfilling her parents' wish to raise funds for the hospital unit that gave her father an extra 18 months of life.
November 11: Gabriella Howells
16-year-old swimmer wins 10 medals at global games for athletes with intellectual disability after learning to swim only three years ago.
November 18: Oliva Hughes
A Year 7 student has probably done more volunteering than most do in their lives, after putting her hand up to help when her friend passed away.
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