Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Bridget Cook
STAN Smith said it was “love at first sight” when he first saw Rose, the woman who was to become his wife.
It must have been true as the Cranbourne couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a family luncheon at the Novotel, Glen Waverley, on Tuesday.
The couple, who have resided in the Aveo Botanic Gardens Retirement Village for the past 10 years, said there were a number of secrets to a long-lasting marriage.
“Always be there for each other through good times and bad,” Mr Smith, 95, said.
“That is true love.”
Mrs Smith, 93, said the key to a long and happy marriage was tolerance and understanding.
Mr Smith was born in Newcastle, England, and migrated to Australia in 1924 and settled in Yallourn with his parents.
Mrs Smith was born in Sandringham and spent most of her childhood living in Richmond.
The couple met in 1939 during the Christmas holidays while Mr Smith was playing in a dance band at a Lakes Entrance holiday resort and Mrs Smith was there as a guest. “It was love at first sight,” Mr Smith said.
On 24 January 1942, the couple married at the Holy Trinity in Kew.
Just three days after the wedding, Mr Smith returned to serve in World Was II in New Guinea.
During his service, Mr Smith was transferred to the Australian Army Entertainment division and his concert band was sent to Borneo to entertain Australian and British former prisoners of war and other troops waiting to be sent home.
Following the end of the war, the couple settled in Mordialloc and started to enjoy their life together where they raised their three children – Ian, Peter and Margaret.
Mr Smith worked for 46 years as an accountant for the State Electricity Commission and retired in 1976.
During the time he also spent many years playing the piano with bands performing around Melbourne.
He has continued his passion for the instrument to this day, entertaining the other residents at the retirement village by playing the piano at the Friday night happy hour.
The couple have spent many years of their retirement in Phillip Island and Merimbula before taking up residence at Aveo Botanic Gardens 10 years ago, where they said they loved the close knit community.
Their daughter Margaret said family was another thing they held close to their hearts.
“They take so much interest and pride in the family and are blessed with eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren,” she said.
