The People's Choice winner William Ryan. News Corp Australia opens the 2013 Pride of Australia awards and welcomes outstanding nominees to the gala ceremony in Sydney. A LOTTERY winner who spent his $100,000 prize on the community instead of himself is among this year's Pride of Australia awards winners. William Ryan from South Australia took out the People's Choice medal for helping the homeless and elderly. Mr Ryan took to the stage with Ita Buttrose and David Penberthy to accept the medal to the rousing cheers from the Studio 10 audience. He said he was "speechless" when talking to Buttrose on the stage to which she replied, "Thank goodness, you're on television, you have to say something!" Mr Ryan's advice to the people in the audience and those watching at home about volunteer work was, "when you see someone in need help them." Earlier he won the Community Spirit medal at Pride of Australia. The Pride of Australia awards held in Sydney recognise the achievements of ordinary Australians giving back to the community. Victorian Luke Owens, right, winner of the Young Leader medal. Victorian Luke Owens won the Young Leader medal for his work starting a charity called Bendigo for Homeless after an 11-year-old girl expressed to him that she and her mother were living in a car, a caravan and a tent without a proper roof over their heads. The Voice winner Harrison Craig performs his new song. Another Victorian, Jody Crisp, took out the Care and Compassion medal for her work with disadvantaged children. Tim Hannan, from NSW, won the Outstanding Bravery medal. Inspiration medal winner Ronald McGlynn soaks in the recognition. "We started in a small cleaners room ... with zero resources," he said. Heidi Hardisty, from Western Australia, won the Environment medal. Environment medal winner Heidi Hardisty from West Australia. Watch the inspirational performance from Harrison Craig, singing 'Lift Your Spirit' at the Pride of Australia awards Taher Forotan has won the Fair Go medal for helping people suffering mental health problems from refugee experiences or other persecution in their homelands. Fair Go medal winner Taher Forotan with Sarah Harris and Joe Hildebrand. The Heroism medal has been won posthumously by fallen NSW police officer Detective Inspector Bryson Anderson. Studio 10 presenters (from left) Sarah Harris, Joe Hildebrand, Ita Buttrose and Jessica Rowe. Mr Anderson lost his life responding to a domestic incident in north west Sydney this year. He was fatally stabbed and lost his life defending his fellow officers. Police Commission Andrew Scipione presented the award to Bryson's daughter, Olivia. "We've all had to grow up and I accept that for our father it was more than a job, it was his life," she said. Donna Bryson receives a hug from Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione. Donna, his wife, accepted the award from Police Commissioner Bryson Anderson and said, "There's was a lot of things everyday that he did that didn't always come under media attention." NSW boy Cooper Woods won the Child of Courage medal for courageous acts from under-16s. Cooper dove into the water at Nethercote Falls when a 14-year-old slipped before jumping off. He pulled her to the surface and held her head above water until adults arrived. Child of Courage medal winner Cooper Woods, 13, impressed Sarah Harris. Natalie Cook has won the Courage medal for starting the Sammy D Foundation following the death of her son Sam when he was king-hit at a party in South Australia. Ms Cook made the traumatic decision to turn off his life support. She continues to educate young people about what happened to her son and violence amongst youth. Harrison Craig performed You Raised Me to the Studio 10 audience and offered some heart felt words about the nominees and their stories. "It's really a true blessing to be in the room with incredible people," Craig said. From me to you, thank you.