30/09/2026
Every special place has someone working quietly behind the scenesâand at Gnylmarung, that person has been Dawn.
Dawn has been both the heart and the brains behind so much of what has made Gnylmarung work, alongside Delma & Alphonse.
She created the campground website and online booking system, introduced the EFTPOS Albert đâthe bane of her existence at the time. She managed social media, made sure licences and insurances remained current and worked through countless land extensions, development approvals and infrastructure upgrades. GST bacame something that needed tending too. Much of what she achieved happened quietly in the background, but Gnylmarung simply would not have been the same without her.
Dawn was also the woman answering the phone calls, text messages and emailsâand the questions were certainly varied: What bait should I use? Is there ice? Will my 2WD make it? Is there a shop? Can we hire a boat? When is high tide? Which lure should I use? Can you identify this snake? đ¤ˇđźââď¸ The list was endless. She handled cancellations and rebookings, solved problems and occasionally dealt with some rather naughty campersâwith her usual calm and level-headed approach.
Even from Melbourne, Dawn helped coordinate with DFES through controlled burns and fires that became anything but controlled đĽđł She liaised with Fisheries, rangers, womenâs Indigenous groups, schools and more organisations than I could possibly name. No matter how busy she wasâand Dawn is genuinely one of the busiest people I knowâshe always made time to answer the phone and help solve whatever problem Gnylmarung was facing. She even tackled Foxtel problems to ensure Alphonse could watch his beloved football!
Dawn has been part of anniversaries, birthdays, hermit crab races, yoga sessions, hoedowns, first-aid courses and countless sunset drinks with friendsâand sometimes with strangers who soon became friends đ As a registered marriage celebrant, she performed two weddings at Gnylmarung, along with several vow renewals. She has also been the MC at many gatherings, always speaking so naturally and beautifully.
Both Dawn and her husband, John, have left pieces of themselves at Gnylmarung. You only need to look around to see their contribution. Over many years, Dawn has shared her love for Gnylmarungâand for the Cox familyâwith her own family and friends, welcoming them into a place that became part of her own story.
You will struggle to find a more level head, a more organised thinker or a kinder soul. I could honestly speak forever about Dawn and how much I admire and respect her. As Alphonse would say, âI want to be just like you when I grow up.â
Thank you, Dawn, for everything you have done for Gnylmarung, and for treating Delma, Alphonse and their family as an extension of your own.
You are truly appreciatedâand deeply lovedâby so many.â¤ď¸
