| Sources |
- [S484] Obituary - Josephine Dawn (Rosenow) Silvester, (Gannaware Times), https://www.gannawarratimes.com.au/life-to-which-she-aspired?amp=1.
DAWN Silvester has died at the age of 83 following a long illness.
The Kerang woman, formerly of Mystic Park, was the devoted wife of Frank for eight days shy of 65 years.
Born on May 11, 1936, in Echuca as Josephine Dawn Rosenow, she was known her whole life as Dawn.
She was the second child and only daughter of Albert "Paddy" Ernest and Josephine Mary Rosenow (nee Clohesy). Her brothers were Ronald, Kelvin and William, who was better known as Bill.
Paddy was a railway man so the young family were frequently on the move with Dawn's early life spent in Echuca, Nyarrin, Barrakee and Koyuga before arriving in Mystic Park at the age of 15. Attending Nyarrin State School, Woosang State School, St Joseph's Catholic College Charlton and Echuca High School, Dawn described herself as "not much of a student", although she was a talented and competitive athlete, needing to secure a place on representative teams before her father would allow her to attend sports day.
Arriving in Mystic Park in January 1952, Dawn's school days were behind her as she started work at the Mystic Park Hotel as a chambermaid, waitress and cook's assistant for three-and-a-half years until just after her marriage in 1955.
During her time working at the hotel, Dawn learned many life-long skills, including how to make her much sought-after Elsie biscuits, the value of persistence while teaching herself how to sharpen knives and gracefully accept the good-natured banter that abounded the hotel.
Dawn and Frank's wedding on February 16, 1955, was the first to be celebrated in the newly completed St James Anglican Church in Mystic Park.
Dawn's strong faith and commitment to the church continued throughout her life, serving in varied positions at church and parish level, fundraising and teaching Sunday school.
Dawn's sporting involvement included playing basketball with Lakes and tennis with the Kangaroo Lake, Lake Charm and Tresco tennis clubs.
However, after the arrival of her family, this was largely in an off-field capacity, serving many years in club and league roles including coaching, umpiring, administration and league delegate.
In a role that was unheard of in that era, Dawn was an umpire development co-ordinator at Lakes and was proud of the fact that Lakes had more badged netball umpires than any other club in the then-Kerang and District Football League.
After a near drowning as a child, Dawn was terrified of water and it was a family joke that if she thought she was going to get wet, she could walk on water.
As a testament to Dawn's bravery and her desire to provide for her family during the 1975 floods, she courageously boated off in the dark with Frank to repair a levee bank to protect a much needed barley crop.
While unloading supplies, she was knocked unconscious pitching into the dark and murky water whereby she was rescued by Frank. She later required four head stitches.
Dawn was always willing to help those in need, and was frequently called upon to use her first aid skills, no doubt acquired through the odd first aid class and tending her seven children and friends.
Neighbour Lindsay Bartel, who had a propensity to be subject to unusual mishaps, was a repeat patient.
Following the death of her daughter, Mary Ann, Dawn, aged 63, found herself back in the role of primary carer to her nine-year-old granddaughter, Danielle.
She provided her with a home and all the love and support she needed to become a strong and independent woman.
Dawn enjoyed preserving local and family history, and compiled the histories of the Lake Charm Mystic Park's Senior Citizens Club and Lions Club, St James Anglican Church Mystic Park and the Probus Club of Kerang.
She was the organised and dedicated secretary of the successful Mystic Park Centenary committee.
Writing a book on her life up until her marriage titled "As I remember it ?..", Dawn brought together the stories, memories and photographs of her childhood for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
With her brothers, Ron and Bill, they mischievously studied the effects of gravity by dropping a brick down the chimney?not realising dozens of eggs were being stored below.
Oh what a mess.
They studied transportation by closely observing what happens, or more precisely what doesn't happen when dozens of wagons are uncoupled off the freight train, and they scaled the silos to peruse the geographical landscape and keep watch for their father Paddy.
With a mischievous sense of humour and the ability to laugh at herself, Dawn enjoyed a good joke.
Dawn was generous with both her time and talents and over the years was involved with schools, churches, sporting clubs, service clubs, charitable and community organisations, social and personal interest groups.
Always willing to learn by trying something new, she took up new interests including painting, Tai chi and writing in retirement.
Dawn's extensive involvement in the Lake Charm Mystic Park community was acknowledged in 2009 with the Lions Club awarding her the Australia Day Local Citizen Award.
As one of the grandchildren remarked: "no matter how busy grandma was or what job she was doing, she always made you feel that at that moment, you were the most important person.
"And she was the only one who would let me eat ice-cream for breakfast."
Dawn is survived by her husband Frank and children Bev, Pat, Helen, Harry, Raelene and Russell, as well as her grandchildren Sarah, Tanya, Lyndsey, Jamie, Bradley, Danielle, Justin, Luke, Silvester, Clayton, Ashley, Morgan, Jack and Charlotte, and step-grandchildren Alysia and Ryan.
She also had great-grandchildren: Oliver, Alexander, Makayla, Calla, Hunter, Jayda, Zari-Lee, Imogen and Jemma, and was hoping to meet a new great-granddaughter in March and great-grandson in April.
Dawn was predeceased by her daughter Mary Ann and great-granddaughter Georgia.
Dawn just wanted to be remembered as a good wife, mother and person, who had done the best she could with what she had and had made a difference.
The large and well attended celebration of her life held in St John's Anglican Church in Kerang on Thursday, February 13, was a testament to Dawn's success in living the life to which she aspired.
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1936 - 2020 (83 years)
