THERE is no doubt Dawn Christine Kelly is deserving of a star on the Ri-Con Cooroy Christmas tree this year. She passed away in June 2015 at 68-years-young but she will be remembered by the many lives that she touched while here on earth.
Dawn had a love for animals, in particular boxer dogs, which were her great passion.
She developed into an award-winning handler at a young age and this is how she met her husband Ray, who was learning to be a dog show judge at the time.
They spent over 50 years together and had three children – Sharon, Nicole and Jason, and three grandchildren – Shauna, Darcy and Martin.
When Dawn and Ray moved to Queensland they bought a passionfruit farm at Tinbeerwah and later ran the Traders Hut, Servo and Caravan Park in Hasting Street, where the Sheraton is now. They also opened a sports and bicycle store in Cooroy which they ran for many years.
Dawn was instrumental in lobbying the government to start a Special Education unit at the Noosa District High School and also volunteered to help students with reading and other life skills. Dawn was also a well-known face in the food canteen at the Cooroy Pony Club days and special events. She volunteered with the Cooroy Pomona Lions Club to organise hosting for a number of the Chernobyl disaster children and also hosted exchange students. She helped to organise the early Pomona King of the Mountain events and raised funds for our community, collecting money for cancer.
Dawn worked in the Cooroy post office for many years and made many friends for her caring attitude. When she retired after many years she loved to travel – both caravanning around Australia and a number of oversea trips including Canada, Europe, New Zealand and most recently the Gallipoli Anniversary.
Dawn took up pottery and loved her gardening including roses, fruit trees and other plantings.
“Dawn, our darling mum, grandma, wife, sister, sister in law, aunty and friend. We will never forget you and we will remember that on some nights a star will shine over Tinbeerwah, which will be you – our shining star forever,” said her husband, Ray Kelly.
The Ri-Con Cooroy Christmas tree will officially be lit up at 7pm on Friday 2 December, which will include the star dedications, carols by The Cherry Ripes and expected light snow flurries.
