A memorable 50 years of love

IT’S been 50 years today since Bob and Gloria McIlroy tied the knot in North Queensland.

Mr McIlroy said the Tully couple first met in 1966 at a record hop in Townsville.

“A record hop is what we called a shack with music. I went down there every weekend and so did she,” he said.

“I approached her first, I walked up to her and asked her to dance.

“In hindsight I realised when I walked over to her I thought ‘I hope she is the one’ but that thought didn’t come back to me for a few months after we started seeing each other.”

He said the progression from new acquaintances to being engaged was natural.

“We were married on July 29, 1967, about 10 or 12 months after we met,” he said.

“We got married in Townsville, there were about 80 people there. We’re both from big families so it was mostly family and some friends.”

The couple then moved down south, where they had their five children.

Their youngest child, Mark, passed away on their wedding anniversary more than a decade ago.

“It’s always a bittersweet celebration for us. We always do something to remember Mark,” he said.

Today’s celebrations, however, will be twofold as doctors report positive news in Mrs McIlroy’s cancer recovery.

“I was a paramedic for years so I relied on Gloria and the kids to help me out. She stood by me through all of that, and our strength together got us through the passing of our son,” he said.

“Our whole marriage has been built on memorable moments. There are always lowlights but the highlights always shine brighter than the lowlights.”

The couple will spend the weekend celebrating half a century of love surrounded by family and friends with a leisurely lunch.

“A few friends are coming up from Townsville and further down south,” Mr McIlroy said.

“A lot of these visitors were at our wedding, so it’ll be nice to say that we’re still all here together after 50 years.”