Dawn Cartledge died from cancer after a five-year battle, leaving behind three children and grandchildren all heavily involved in the Ballarat Sebastopol BMX club.

In support of the family, the club held the Dawn Cartledge Memorial Clubby, with the $5 entry fee and money from a baked goods sales and raffle tickets donated to the Gandarra Palliative Care Unit, where Ms Cartledge spent her final week. 

Ballarat Sebastopol BMX membership coordinator Danielle Pompe joined Ms Cartledge’s grandchildren Jake Gamble, Jaydn Cartledge, and Ash Gamble as they returned to the palliative care unit to present the $1200 raised to staff on Tuesday. 

“This was our contribution as  a club because we are all like family,” Ms Pompe said.

“Dawn was a loving mother, a loving wife, and a loving grandmother to all of her grandkids. The three boys still ride (with us) and whenever we have opens or a clubby the whole family pitch in… and Dawn was always there to back her grandkids.”

Ms Pompe said the club would not be where it was today without the volunteer hours and support of the Cartledge family, from providing security, to putting on barbecues and running the canteen.

“We are looking at having the Dawn Cartledge Memorial Clubby every year, where money will go to causes based in Ballarat, such as the kids’ ward,” she said. 

But the palliative care unit was the obvious first choice for the inaugural event.

“Gandarra was amazing to the family and to Dawn in her last week, so this is just the way we wanted to help and we’re just proud to be part of a group that has donated money to a worthy cause,” Ms Pompe said. 

Ms Cartledge will be remembered for her love of baking and gardening, which is why a tree has been planted in her memory with a plaque at the club’s track. 

The memorial tree was a donation from Ballarat Plant Sales. It was a community effort to put on the fundraising event with a long list of organisations and businesses jumping on board to help.