Former Cats president’s wedding milestone

NEWTOWN’S Jill and John Holt met each other at a work Christmas party in the summer of 1949, were married in 1953 and haven’t looked back since.

The pair will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary today and often reflect on a lifetime of service to the Geelong community tackled together.

Mr Holt is a former mayor of Geelong and former president of the Geelong Football Club, where he served from 1980 until 1983.

He said that his wife had always been been an incredible support to him in every endeavour that he had taken on.

“When I said I wanted to be mayor, she was mayoress,” he said.

“When I wanted to be president of the football club, she filled the role of president’s wife exceptionally.”

“Mike Sheehan, who was the head writer for the Herald Sun, once said ‘your ability as a football club president can perhaps be questioned, but your wife is undoubtedly the greatest lady president ever’.

“Jill has been able to enjoy sport, be a great support to me, and raise the children exceptionally well.”

Mrs Holt said that the strength of their marriage may have been because they still retained separate interests and independence in their partnership.

Mrs Holt was a keen golfer and traveller, who has been on multiple trips overseas without her husband.

The couple have three children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, all who gathered to celebrate the milestone at Truffle Duck at the weekend.

The couple were joined at the event by Mrs Holt’s younger sister Sue and Mr Holt’s older brother John, who were the Maid of Honour and Best Man at the wedding.

Mr Holt said that Mrs Holt was the strength of the marriage, much to his wife’s embarrassment.

“Today, married couples have far different challenges and I wish them well,” Mr Holt said.