A Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Savannah RAINES-HAWKEN will be held at the Leitchville Sporting Complex on WEDNESDAY (2nd September, 2026) commencing at 11:00am.
Location of the Complex can be found here
A Private Cremation will follow.
We wish to encourage you to express your sympathies and condolences to the family via a post on this announcement which the family are able to access and read.
(All messages are pending the approval of staff to avoid inappropriate content).
Savannah’s Service will be live streamed on WEDNESDAY (2nd September, 2026) commencing at 11.00am.
Please click on the Live Stream Tab on our main page where the service will be streamed live on WEDNESDAY.
You were my second mama growing up. Thank you for always welcoming me into your home and for being a safe place. Heather and I have so many wonderful memories and you were apart of so many. I will always cherish you and thank God you were in my life. Rest in peace and to your girls…my heart aches for you all. Praying for you. 🤍
Deepest sympathy On Savannas passing , We never met her other than PCFM , but have stayed in touch with her via internet for quit a few years , she was a very sensitive lady , will miss her , Our sincere sympathy Doug Ray & Betty Blake Ontario Canada
I first met Savvy through Power Country FM when I was a presenter there with Dugga, I was based in Kyabram & Tongala.. I met Savvy through Camstreams on Norris Bell’s program. I was the typist who had the privilege to chat to listeners overseas. Savvy & I got to know each other more when she came to Leitchville from America. My husband, myself, Dugga & Savvy would often get together for lunches and coffee at the Bower Bar & Bistro and then head back to their place for numerous cups of coffee with cream, it was the only way to drink it according to Savvy. She’d tell me that Aussie bacon wasn’t real bacon, not like the American stuff! We always enjoyed our get togethers, we’d laugh and reminisce about our radio days and about how much she loved Dugga, she felt she was real lucky in meeting him. She loved the group the Hanson Brothers, James Blunt and lots of country music, she would do voice overs for the promos and I remember mainly the one about Eskimos. You will be forever remembered Savvy , thank you for your friendship over the years, condolences to your family in the USA, Dugga & his family and all your friends worldwide who you met on PCFM. They send their condolences to everyone.. Fly high my friend. We love you ❤️
Dear Doug & the Hawken family;
So very sorry to hear your sad news.
We didn’t have the pleasure of knowing your beautiful Savannah 🌹 but reading through these loving tributes; we can see what a blessing she was to you all. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Prayers and love at this difficult time of your loss.
Love Judy & Ken Trewin. 🙏💕xx
Saddened to hear of Savvy’s passing. Deepest sympathy to Doug and Savvy’s family in the USA. May she R.I.P 💐💔
Jules and Bevan Mastin.
I love you, Momma..
Condolences to you and your family Megan, xx DJ Lori
So sorry Doug. I’ll miss seeing her pictures and messages on Facebook. I love her and hope we can stay in touch. 💗 💕 ❤️
She was a special lady. 💖
Dear Dougie and all family members. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and condolences.
I know Savvy gave a whole new meaning to your life Doug. She was your “SOULMATE”, your love and your heart.
I am so glad I had a chance to spend some time with you both just recently.
R.I.P. Dougies ANGEL.
A Reflection on the Life of Savannah Raines-Hawken
“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”
— Vincent van Gogh
On behalf of Denise and I, we offer Doug and the Hawken family our condolences and deepest sympathy on the passing of Savannah Raines-Hawken.
The story of how Savannah became part of our lives is a most interesting one. She was far away, overseas in the USA, when she heard the Power Country FM Leitchville radio program, started and produced by Doug in conjunction with his colleagues.
One is reminded of the words of the song:
“From little things, big things grow.”
Obviously, Savannah’s curiosity got the better of her, and she made contact using the new-fangled technology that was becoming available in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Before this, Savannah had lived in various parts of the USA, and Savvy often referred to the great state of Nevada, near Las Vegas. Savannah built a career raising a family and caring for others and, as I have now discovered, writing a novel called Refuge Island, published in August 2002.
As Savannah and Doug’s relationship grew, Savvy finally made the big decision to come to Australia and become part of the Leitchville community.
Savvy made you feel welcome when you entered their home, showing a wide range of interests and skills.
With her husband Doug leading such an interesting life through Power Country FM, and his continual research into football history, photography, and video recording, they became a very close, loving, and inseparable couple.
“Kindness is the oil that takes the friction out of life.”
— Unknown
Savannah wisely took time to get to know the community and understand Australian relationships, cultural differences, etc. From this point on, Savvy put her own personality on display. She was willing to greet and meet anyone she was introduced to, explain her background and share her own view of the world.
The communities of Leitchville and Cohuna met her regularly, as she accompanied Doug on many of his outings and the projects he was undertaking.
Savvy will be remembered for her wide-ranging contributions, for enriching our community in her own way, and for her commitment to making decisions in the best way she knew how.
I am sure many of us, including myself, came to understand her journey through life and the differences between the culture and community in which she was brought up and the one she had been part of for more than twelve years.
Sadly, we now have to say goodbye as Savannah continues her journey to another place.
I am reminded of a verse I came across on my travels that, to me, says something about Savannah’s journey through life:
I expect to pass through this world but once.
Any good therefore that I can do,
Or any kindness that I can show,
Let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
For I shall not pass this way again.
As you reflect on your passing, Savannah, it is the memories, personal friendships and care for others that will leave our community with so much to cherish about your presence.
Savvy, your journey through life has seen you graduate with distinction.
Doug, Savannah has been a loyal partner, leaving you with much to be proud of in her love and support of you and the wider family.
Yours sincerely,
Max and Denise Fehring
Deepest sympathy to Doug and family. Such a sad time for you all. Memories last forever.
Jenny and Garry and family.
Deepest sympathy to Doug and your family and to Savvy’s family in America, such a lovely lady.
Love Geoff Thompson.
Our deepest sympathies to Doug and family on the passing of Savannah.
She was such a lovely person always with a smile and warm welcome.
Please accept our deepest condolences on her passing.
Ken and Wendy Scott.
So sorry for your loss Doug, lovely lady gone too soon.
So sorry when I heard, Doug. Such a kind and happy lady, I will miss her so. 🌹
Our deepest sympathy to Doug on the sudden passing of his loved wife Savannah. Our thoughts are with you.
The Schwencke Family.
Sending our deepest sympathy to Doug, Tim, Matt, Sophie and all the family on the passing of Savannah. RIP.
Peter & Joy Taylor.
My deepest condolences to Doug and Savvy’s family in America. May she rest peacefully and have her ‘one more’ every day.
A special lady who always greeted me with a big cuddle who will be sadly missed.
Deepest sympathy to Doug and the Hawken family.
Susan Cole.
To Doug and family. Deeply sorry to hear of Savvy’s passing. What a truly lovely lady she was. Sending love and prayers.
Sincere sympathy to you Doug. I only met Savannah twice but she was lovely, may she rest in peace.
Our thoughts go out to you.
Joy and Robert Taylor.