Berry couple marks 60th anniversary with surprise party

The Berry couple walked into the Berry Hotel on Saturday, February 24 and were greeted by friends and family ready to celebrate the milestone. 

The party was organised by the couple’s three daughters and saw guests attend from the local area and beyond, including Brisbane, Port Macquarie and Sydney. 

Mick and Pat will officially mark their 60^th wedding anniversary on Thursday, March 1. 

They met when Pat was 16 and Mick was 20 at a party in Newtown where they both lived and worked. 

After a 15-month courtship they were married at St. Pius Catholic Church in Enmore on March 1, 1958.

They bought a house at Revesby, where their three daughters were born.

Mick had a small trucking business and the pair later built a new home at West Ryde in 1965.

Eight years later they decided on a change.

“In 1973 we decided to decided to embark on a sea change and moved to Berry where we purchased the Great Southern Hotel,” Mick said.

“That started a new adventure for us and our family on the beautiful South Coast.”

In the 43 years they’ve lived in Berry, the couple has purchased several hotels and also managed bowling clubs in the Shoalhaven area.

Both Mick and Pat have done and still do a lot of voluntary work in our area and in June 2017 Mick celebrated 40 years in Berry Rotary.

In September 2000 Mick carried the Olympic Torch and in February this year he also carried the Queen’s Commonwealth Baton in Nowra.

Patricia is a charter member of Berry View Club and has been a member for 36 years, and on Sunday, March 25, 2012 she was awarded a Shoalhaven International Women’s Day Award for outstanding contribution to the community.

Over the last 20 years Mick and Pat have travelled extensively through Australia, Europe and America. They’ve also cruised different parts of the world.

Mick and Pat have three daughters, three grandsons a granddaughter (deceased) and have just welcomed their first great granddaughter on Australia Day.