Taking responsibility and accepting that life is about contributing to society. This is something that has always been a part of Dawn’s ethos. She had an active interest in Plunket which included assisting with the organisation of community babysitting rosters, working with others to raise funds for Plunket and Kindergarten and then later supporting school committees.
Whether it was as a team player or the team leader, Dawn made a valued contribution in her community. For example she lead a project team in 1986 fundraising $10,000 for the Rotary International Polio Plus campaign which had the objective of worldwide irradiation of the dreaded Polio disease.
In March 1976 when Del joined the Rotary Club of Pakuranga, more opportunities to serve the community were presented to her. She was a foundation member of Zonta East Auckland.
On two occasions, Inner Wheel has bestowed Dawn with an ‘Honored Active Award,’ Rotary International recognised her contribution with a Paul Harris Fellowship and later a Sapphire Pin. In July 2017 she was admitted into Rotary as an honorary member.
These awards are a true recognition of Dawn’s lifelong ‘Service above Self’ 
commitment to both her community and to individuals.
Ongoing interest in embroidery and petit point during the 1990s led to the formation of two groups of women interested in developing their own interest and competency in this art form. The two groups continue to meet weekly and enjoy sharing and assisting each 
other in the further development of their handcraft skills.
Dawn is a woman of dignity with quiet and unassuming energy directed towards others with the objective of improving their lives, developing relationships and making those she meets feel good about themselves.
Over the years she has demonstrated positivity to the point where the word NO does not exist in her vocabulary.