Turners celebrate 60 years wed

IT MUST have been fate that brought Holly Smith and Cec Turner together more than 60 years ago.

Next week is their 60th wedding anniversary, but back then Cec lived in Mackay and Holly in Southport.

Both were country pharmacy students – Holly apprenticed to Arthur Wright in Goomeri and Cec to John F. Clark in Mackay.

After studying pharmacy by correspondence for three years, they spent a year at The Central Technical College in George St, Brisbane.

“It was here that Cec and I met,” Mrs Turner says. “This tough academic year was successfully passed by both of us, so the romance flourished.”

They married at St Andrew’s Church in Lutwyche on January 23, 1960, with a reception at heritage-listed Brisbane landmark 29 Murray St, and enjoyed a six-month honeymoon in New Zealand.

“Jobs at Wellington Hospital made the extended stay possible,” Mrs Turner said.

Back in Australia, they worked in Coolangatta until their first baby was born.

“It was time to branch out and buy a small country pharmacy. The Biggenden Pharmacy was purchased and, as expected, the home had to be part of the deal,” Mrs Turner said.

Eldest son, Michael, was six months old when they arrived in Biggenden, and was followed by Tony, Nesta and Peter.

After 13 years, they moved to Cairns, where their grandfathers worked in the late 1880s.

“Cec’s grandfather was a typesetter and printer at the

Cairns Post, while my grandfather was a bookkeeper at Burns Philp in Wharf St.

“We bought into a partnership with Mick Bianchi at McBrides Pharmacy in Abbott St,” Mrs Turner said.

Son Michael is a dentist, Tony is a doctor in Melbourne, Nesta works as a nurse at Cairns Hospital and Peter is a partner in two Atherton pharmacies.

Cec loves a round of golf at Yorkeys Knob, while Holly plays mahjong with friends.

After 60 years of marriage, their advice is: “Always put love of family first and work together as a team.”

The Turners will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with family at Dundees.