By Victoria Stone-Meadows
A selfless woman from Noble Park has been remembered by family and friends from across the globe at a touching memorial at St James Anglican Church in Dandenong.
Dawn Virginia Fredericks prioritised the needs of others to her very end, even requesting a donation to the McCulloch House palliative care unit of the Monash Medical Centre in lieu of flowers at her funeral.
A stalwart of the Dandenong community, Dawn gave her complete self over to supporting others in the community who needed her.
Dawn, her husband, and their two children Toni and Shane immigrated to Australia from South Africa in 1972 on board an Italian ship.
While lifelong friends were made during that passage, Dawn wasted no time throwing herself whole-heartedly into the Australian lifestyle.
Daughter Toni remembers trips to the beach in the early years of being in Australia with kids and cousins crammed into the back of a Mini on sweltering vinyl seats, with Dawn and her sister Patsy behind the wheel.
As her kids grew, Dawn was always involved in their lives and their interests.
She sat on school committees and attended social events, played organ at the primary school church and was always involving herself in the community through sport, church and other volunteer positions.
In 1983 Dawn found and married her soul mate Larry, a relationship Toni describes as “a fine example of a marriage and companionship”.
For seven years Dawn volunteered her time at the chemotherapy ward of the Dandenong Hospital, speaking with people and supporting them through their treatments.
“I was in awe of her ability to sit with people and face their grief and sadness with them, her strength was truly amazing,” Toni said.
It was through her work with Venturer bus services working as a carer on the bus for students from the Emmerson School in Dandenong that her selflessness won her a bravery award.
In March 2013, the school bus was involved in a head on crash with a car while Dawn and students from the school were on board.
Dawn was cool in the chaos after the crash as she opened the rear window of the bus and helped the students escape.
“She cared for each and every one of those students as she would have her own children,” Toni said.
“We were so proud of her.”
Dawn found her spiritual home at St James Anglican Church in Dandenong and it was an important connection for Dawn as faith had always been an important part of her life.
“Mum was a daughter, sister, mother wife, step mother, sister in law, cousin, aunt, great aunt, mother in law and ouma; to most she was a beloved friend and she excelled in those roles,” Toni said.
“She had a good life, one she cherished and lived, she truly lived. We have been touched by someone very special and these are the memories we will cherish forever.”
Dawn Virginia Fredericks passed away on 20 January 2017 and was farewelled on Friday 27 January.
