After being named NSW Australian of the Year for 2025 in November, Ms Koshel will come up against other state winners for the national title this weekend.
The winner will be announced on Saturday night.
Ms Koschel’s notable achievements include being an Iron Man competitor, a handy state level cricketer and the founder of the Kindness Factory, a global kindness movement, touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life.
And she says a lot of her drive was born right here in Finley.
“It all probably started in Finley, with my grandparents and their influence,” she said.
“I always sort of say, I am bringing the small town to the big town, the art of saying g’day and using peoples names, which is kind of lost in the city.”
Ms Koschel made her cricketing debut for NSW against South Australia, at the famous Adelaide Oval.
And just as quickly as she made that debut, her career was brought to a screeching halt.
She sustained an injury to her back which required surgery. When complications arose, she was about 24 hours away from having a leg amputated when doctors found the source of the problem - a bleed in the abdomen stopping blood circulating to her leg.
The leg was saved and during rehabilitation, Ms Kochel met Jim - the love of her life.
But tragedy struck again when he took his own life.
Suffering both mental and physical trauma, it was through the kindness of others during her recovery that she was able to turn what was such a negative experience into positive change for others.
Ms Koschel raised more than $300,000 for various charities and organisations.
Her next feat would come in the shape of an Iron Man marathon, and in 2015 she became the first person with prosthetic discs in her back to complete the feat.
It was the same year that she founded the Kindness Factory.
While training for her second Iron Man in 2016, Kath was struck by a four-wheel drive vehicle while riding her bike and had her back broken.
But she kept fighting, learned to walk all over again, and has maintained positivity throughout.
To watch the Australian of the Year awards ceremony, tune into the ABC or ABC iview from 7.30pm Saturday.
• Anyone requiring crisis support can contact Accessline on 1800 800 944, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14, BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800. You can also contact the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au.
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