Pratts reach a rare milestone
by Emma Ballingall Adie Pratt fondly recalls riding a horse 10 miles on Sundays to see his future wife Val as the couple reflect on 70 years of marriage.
The Warragul couple will mark this rare wedding anniversary tomorrow (Wednesday) with a small morning tea at a restaurant.
While it won’t be the celebration they wanted – two of their five children unable to attend due to living in Queensland, it is an anniversary both Adie and Val have been eagerly awaiting.
Val said the couple met at a dance in the RSL Hall in Warragul when she was just 15 and Adie was 18.
Three years later they married at the then Methodist Church in Warragul on November 4, 1950 before an afternoon tea at the RSL Hall.
Val said it was a small affair. She still has her wedding veil and wedding slip and recalls their most unique wedding present – a chicken and 12 chicks they had to go and collect from a neighbour.
“Well, it’s unbelievable,” Adie said when asked to reflect on 70 years of marriage. “You don’t hear it happen very often.”
Adie said his four most important things in life were family, farming, football and the garden.
“She’s not quite sure where she fits in,” he laughs.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” Val reflected. “We give thanks for our family and friends who have been on this journey with us.”
Adie and Val worked together tirelessly on the farm at Tetoora Road milking jersey cows throughout 60 of their 70 years of marriage. It wasn’t without its challenges, including living in a refitted barn on the property without power.
They were also the last couple in the district to get a television.
“We’ve been through some pretty tough times,” Val said. “Some of those times I wished I was anywhere else. But nothing in life is easy.”
Both have also faced health battles, more recently Adie.
“I was meant to be here to look after him,” Val says.
However, there have also been many wonderful memories.
From the Ellinbank Football Club to Tetoora Road Ladies Social Club and
St Luke’s Church at Ellinbank, the duo has always been a force in their local community.
“Living in a district, you have to pull your weight,” Val believes.
Some of their favourite memories are attending dances at Lardner, Seaview and the RSL Hall in Warragul. In fact, wearing her altered wedding dress, Val remembers winning a waltzing competition at Lardner in 1951.
Adie is renowned for his record keeping at Ellinbank Football Club where the duo has volunteered and supported for more than 70 years.
He served as treasurer for 17 years, gatekeeper for 20 years as well as various stints as secretary.
At one point, Adie was secretary or treasurer for four different clubs in the district.
Starting with nothing, Val said the couple worked hard with no holidays in their early marriage. However, they did later fit in two trips overseas and six trips around Australia.
Adie and Val have five children, 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and their second great-great-grandchild is due any day.