Still holding hands after 70 years
Yarragon couple Ron and Dorothy Oliver can be found most days holding hands as they walk to a local café to enjoy good company and coffee.
The couple, both former teachers at Warragul Technical School, recently celebrated an incredible 70 years of marriage with an informal afternoon tea surrounded by family and friends.
Such a long-lasting and happy marriage may have been missed had Dorothy not given Ron a second chance after a far from perfect first date.
The pair met whilst living in the same street in Reservoir. Whilst walking home, Ron recalls inviting Dorothy along to watch his football match and join him at a following picnic. However, after the game, Ron volunteered to play in a second match.
“I often tell him, it’s lucky I went out with him again,” laughs Dorothy.
Just two years later, 21-year-old Ron and 20year-old Dorothy were married on February 9 at the Anglican church in Preston.
A teaching position for Ron at Warragul Technical School saw the couple move to Warragul in 1961 and the pair has been contributors to the social and sporting life of Warragul, Rokeby and Yarragon in the years since.
Ron taught at the Warragul Technical School, was a scout leader, football coach and umpire and an active member of the Brandy Creek Tennis Club. Ron retired as the acting principle of the largest technical school in Victoria and his innovative and thoughtful approaches to education were appreciated by staff and students.
Dorothy supported the social clubs of Warragul North Primary School, as president of the mother’s club, and the Warragul High School. She was one of the first people to complete an adult’s matric (year 12) and went on to be a teacher with an honours diploma and degree.
Dorothy said she started in the library at Warragul Technical School and “before long they had me teaching a year seven”. She taught at the school for about 12 years.
The couple supported new architect graduate Peter Elliot to design a house on 20 acres at Rokeby. This fulfilled a dream to own and manage land in an environmentally sensitive way and marked the beginning of an adventurous retirement.
Ron described the Rokeby property as “my bit of paradise” with the river, birds and animals. Such was his love of the property that the couple remained in Rokeby upon him taking up a position of setting up a new school at Mt Evelyn in the late 70s.
Upon retirement in 1987, the couple has enjoyed camping and caravanning across Australia and several overseas holidays to New Zealand, Egypt and Asia.
Whilst at Rokeby, Ron and Dorothy helped start the Rokeby Market to raise money for the restoration of the Rokeby Hall. They also helped establish the West Gippsland Bushwalking Club and were active leaders of the Warragul Probus Club.
Black Saturday united the communities of Lardner, Labertouche and Neerim South with Ron and Dorothy participating in community building activities. However, it also raised concerns about the demands of life on a bush block and they made the tough decision to sell up.
They chose to live in Yarragon for its rich social life, easy walking and great coffee.
Ron and Dorothy have three children – Margaret Oliver of Yarragon, Susan Oliver of East Melbourne and David Oliver of Canberra.
They also have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.