LOVE NEVER GROWS OLD, THEY SAY... HERE’S PROOF
Love never grows old, they say, and here’s proof. Residents at RFBI Dubbo Masonic Village celebrated Valentine’s Day last Wednesday, February 14, and were more than happy to share some of their truly remarkable and diverse love stories. Interviews and photos by DARCEE NIXON. Love match for Nena and Albert (Bert) Stevens
NENA was employed in her first job at “The Arts Studio” in Macquarie Street where she helped out sorting the photographs that were developed by the business. Bert had moved to Dubbo from Young and was working for Caltex. He also played football for Dubbo Rugby League (now called Dubbo Macquarie). Nena was not a big fan of the footy, but her friends told her that they wanted to introduce her to someone that would be perfect for her... and they were right! Nena and Bert were married at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church on January 27, 1958. The day of the wedding was very hot, but Nena still wore her gloves and a number of petticoats, and Bert still wore a suit. They now have three children: Kris, Grant and Jodie.
Cinderella story for Winsome (Winny) and Noel Piper
WINNY was working in sales and Noel was working on the railway when they both met at a PMG Ball. They married on February 9, 1963 at St Brigid’s Catholic Church in
Dubbo. The wedding reception was at the Royal Hotel on Macquarie Street. They went to live at Thirroul and then returned to Dubbo. They now have three children, Christopher, Matthew and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren – Jordon, Isaac, Ruby and Brydee.
Eternal Love for Mary and Laurence Clark
THEIR incredible love story was in the February 15 edition of Dubbo Photo News.
Laurence, 94, and his wife Mary, 91, are in their 72nd year of marriage and their life partnership has produced two children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
“It was love at first sight,” Laurence said, recalling the weekend he spent in Adelaide and by chance attended a dance where he met and fell in love with Mary.
Laurence went on to become a Qantas pilot.
“Mary was looking after the kids while I was working. We never had hard times,” he said.
“We used to travel a lot. I’d take her with me. We’ve been around the world umpteen dozen times. We kept life interesting. That was the main thing, just to keep the interests and work at it.”
Work sweethearts: Gwen and Walter (Wally) Jones
WALLY had worked at a General Motors garage for a few years before Gwen came to work in the office of the same business. It did not take long for their love to blossom and they have now been married for 65 and a half years.
Long lost lovers: Dorathea and John (Jack) Goddard
DORATHEA and Jack met when they were teenagers, but Jack had to go away for work. In the meantime, Dorathea met Greg and they got married and had four children. Jack also married, to a lady named Jean, and they had two children.
For a time, Jack and Jean lived just around the corner from Dorathea and Greg, before moving to Cootamundra. Jack and Jean then retired and moved to Yamba.
After Greg’s passing, and Dorathea retiring from employment, she moved to Alstonville.
One day, Dorathea read in the paper that Jean Goddard, wife of Jack Goddard, had passed away. She decided to look up Jack’s phone number and give him a call and they both arranged to catch up with each other. It did not take long for them to fall in love all over again. They both moved to Dubbo, where they married in 1988.