Berry Masonic Village held a Valentine’s Day morning tea for residents and their partners on Wednesday.
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We interviewed four couples who have been married for more than 60 years.
Alf and Hazel Edwards
How did you meet?
Alf: At a bus stop in Homebush. At the time I was racing push bikes, I was riding around, she used to have red hair, and I saw this lovely, beautiful lady with red hair waiting at the bus stop. Anyway, next week I got enough gumption up to stop and say hello, and it just continued on for 67 years.
First impressions?
Alf: I thought she was lovely, I was partial to redheads.
Hazel: I wondered what he was doing riding round and round. When he finally started talking to me I thought, he seems alright.
What do you love about each other?
Hazel: I like everything about him.
Alf: We’ve never had an argument.
What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
Alf: Don’t talk too much, don’t argue.
Hazel: Be true to one another.
May and John Haken
Where did you meet?
May: We both worked at the paint factory, at Burcher Paints. He was a trainee chemist and I worked in the office.
What was your first impression?
May: I thought he was different, by the time he got a bit older he’d get very interesting.
John: Very good, very good.
May: Go on, tell her, you were going out with an older person who ditched you, and you needed someone to take to a 21st birthday.
How long have you been together?
John: Married 62 years
May: You could add the six years it took me to catch him, because he had roller skates on.
What do you love about each other?
May: I know why he likes me, because I cook and he likes to eat. Me, oh, marriages aren’t made in heaven, but you put up a right side and a wrong side and it’s always come out on the right side.
What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
May: Everybody’s different. It was a different age back then, friends we’ve had since back then are all still married, you just didn’t get married and run. It was a different world.
Jack and Shirley Bramley
How did you meet?
Shirley: Probably at a dance.
First impressions?
Shirley: Not that crash hot, and the same with him as well.
How long have you been together?
Shirley: 68 years on Sunday
What do you love about each other?
Shirley: He’s very caring.
Jack: A lovely girl and I love her.
What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
Shirley: Accepting whatever comes, don’t get too upset over things. Support one another.
Jack: We’re both about the same temperament.
Bob and Norma Leach
How did you meet?
Bob: At a bike carnival. I used to race on bikes, her brother and I used to race together, she would come and watch us.
First impressions?
Norma: I thought, what a funny little man.
How long have you been together?
Bob: We married in 1956, and been together a few years before that.
What do you love about each other?
Bob: She’s been a good partner and a good mother. Haven’t had any strife or troubles.
Norma: Sometimes he’s good.
What’s the secret to a happy marriage?
Bob: Sharing everything and working together, which we’ve done. You don’t have to live in one another’s pockets, as long as you share your money it’ll all work out good.