Townsville Bulletin

Couple dance through 70 years of bliss

- KATE BANVILLE

This could be their opportunit­y to win an Ipad, book pack and their very own story published into a book! SEVENTY years of marriage is an incredible milestone but Col and Alma O’brien concede “there is no secret”.

Mr O’brien says he remembers everything vividly, from the moment they met to every major milestone along the way, but it’s the simple things in life that have made their love everlastin­g.

“We were never well off but we made do, we’ve had a good life,” Mr O’brien said.

“I don’t think there’s any secret to a long marriage except give and take, you’ve got to respect each other and you’ve also got to rely on each other.”

He said friendship had always been at the core of their relationsh­ip, and at 91 and 89 they still enjoyed dancing together.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a really serious spat at each other, we always got along well together,” he said.

“When we met we went to dances seven nights a week and we had no transport so we walked everywhere.

“We still go every weekend but it’s more of a shuffle for us these days.”

The former Royal Australian Air Force warrant officer married his “golden girl” in Townsville in 1949 before raising four children as they moved around Australia and overseas for different postings.

Family was the most important thing to the Rosslea couple, who will celebrate their 70th anniversar­y on November 5.

“We had four children, 12 grandchild­ren, six great-grandchild­ren and two greatgreat-grandkids, so we’ve been so darn lucky,” Mr O’brien said.

 ?? Picture: EVAN MORGAN ?? EVERLASTIN­G LOVE: Alma and Col O’brien will celebrate their 70th anniversar­y next month.
Picture: EVAN MORGAN EVERLASTIN­G LOVE: Alma and Col O’brien will celebrate their 70th anniversar­y next month.
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia