Rogers celebrate 60 years together

Shared loves of family, sport and farm life form the bond of Warragul couple John and Ros Rogers who celebrated 60 years of marriage on Thursday.

“We’ve had a terrific marriage,” reflected Ros on the diamond anniversary.

“We’ve just got lucky I suppose,” said John on the secret to marriage longevity. “All these things are give and take.”

The couple, who spent most of their married life on the family dairy farm at Lardner, made the move to Fairview Village five years ago.

Ros said they didn’t need a big party to celebrate, “just come out to the farm, that’s the best bit”.

The farm has been in John’s family since 1874 and the couple’s great-grandchildren are the seventh generation to live on the property.

Along with celebrating the occasion with small family gatherings, catching up with friends was another priority for the social couple.

John and Ros are foundation members of Tarago Probus Club in Warragul, John serving as president in 2009.

John was a volunteer Farm World committee member for more than 50 years and has filled the role of timekeeper for the Ellinbank Football Club.

The couple also enjoy the friendships and company of fellow residents within the Fairview Village community.

The couple first met at Warragul High School but it wasn’t until they partnered to Ros’ 21st birthday that romance grew.

“I knew who he was from school,” said Ros. “We both loved our sport.”

After finishing school, Ros worked at Pettits and John on the family farm.

They also share a love of travel, having both separately travelled to Europe in their late teens. Ros went for a working holiday whilst John travelled with the Young Australia League before joining this organisation at the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956.

John and Ros have three daughters, Debbie, Tricia and Rosie (dec), two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.