Hard work cornerstone of 70 years
A HUSBAND and wife from Trinity Beach will mark their 70th wedding anniversary on Tuesday with some friends and family.
Peter and Patricia Gill got married on March 29, 1952, at the Anglican Church in Swan Hill.
The hard-working couple had their ups and downs but always got by through their love.
“Her sense of humour has always been outstanding ever since I first met her and that was in 1947,” Mr Gill said.
“She has a wonderful sense of humour and she is caring and kind and a lovely mother to her children.”
Once the couple married they worked on the family farm and raised their two children on it.
Mr Gill said it was an interesting time.
“In the farm days, we had no power,” he said.
“It was all wood stoved, dunny in the backyard, no refrigeration. In those times a lot of people didn’t have them either especially up in the farming community.”
But eventually Mr and Mrs Gill moved in a different direction.
“When we left the farm and bought a pub, we sold it and retired then we got itchy feet again and bought a caravan park,” he said.
“We were very involved in hard work especially when we looked after the caravan park.
“We worked together and worked harmoniously together, not always though but we have been pretty happy.”
Mr Gill said even in the hard times they were great at communication and talked through their problems and reached an agreement.
After owning the caravan park the happy couple found it was time to retire after about 10 to 12 years.
“We retired to Ocean Grove and became lawn bowlers,” he said.
“We also caravanned in the winter months and Trinity Beach became a regular spot.
“We decided to move up full time because our daughter and grandchildren were nearby.”
Mr Gill said he had two grandchildren and was happy to have them close.
“We love when we see them and we wish them all the best in their careers,” he said.
“We haven’t had any great grandchildren yet and we look forward to them.”
Mr and Mrs Gill are expecting to have a special time celebrating.
Mrs Gill is currently in hospital due to some lung issues but Mr Gill is hopeful they will be able to spend it at home.
“I am pretty sure she will be out for Tuesday,” he said.
“I have a couple of cousins flying up from Brisbane. I feel she will be home, we haven’t got anything big going.
“We have people coming to the home and a few friends.”