Celebrating 70 wonderful years
THE mail arrived thick and fast for Ena and Wal Billingham last week.
Seventy years after they tied the knot, the Mt Garnet couple received messages from Queen Elizabeth II, Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and MP Bob Katter.
They also enjoyed a 70th wedding anniversary luncheon at Malanda Dairy Centre with a chocolate sponge from Malanda Bakery & Coffee Shop.
“If they could have got out of the party they would have, but they were delighted with the messages,” said daughter Frances Langtree.
Walter Lawrence Billingham was born on March 8, 1925, and Georgina Janet Marie Harriman on June 27, 1928 – both in Cairns. Wal went to Cairns Central Boys School and Ena to Cairns Central Girls School.
“They met in Cairns after World War II,” Frances said. “Dad’s family stayed in Cairns during the war, while mum’s family moved to Kuranda because of the big oil tanks at Portsmith. They were worried that if they exploded, Cairns wouldn’t be there any more.”
Wal was 22 and Ena 19 when they married at St Saviour’s Church at Kuranda on June 28, 1947.
“Dad worked as a labourer on the wharf, then at H.E.C. produce company, then Northern Builders – which later became BBC – in the roofing shed, where some of the roofing iron was cut for properties in Innisfail and Babinda after Cyclone Winifred,” Frances said.
“When he retired, they moved to Tarzali, then later to Mt Garnet.”
Frances said the six children enjoyed a happy, simple life.
“My parents were hardworking. There was only one wage. My father quite often worked two jobs at one time. We didn’t live in a lot of luxury, but we didn’t do without,” Frances said.
“We learnt music. The boys ended up becoming engineers or draftsmen, one sister got two degrees, another worked for Main Roads and I was a schoolteacher. Mum is an avid reader. She still is. I was the first child and a girl, but it was because of mum I was encouraged to do Year 12.”
Wal and Ena’s family now includes 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.