By Brendan Rees
A Hampton Park couple have reflected on their “commitment to one another” after celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Ken and Joy Reedy celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on 11 October, marking the occasion with a lunch with family at Cannibal Creek Vineyard and Winery in Tynong.
“We had a lovely day. It was very special and wonderful,” Joy said.
Ken and Joy received a letter from the Queen, Governor-General, and Prime Minister to mark their 65th and 60th wedding anniversaries.
Joy said Federal Member for Holt Anthony Byrne visited their home for their 65th wedding anniversary, presenting a card and Australian flag as a gift. “It was wonderful – very warm and kind. Quite an honour I thought.”
Ken, 88 and Joy, 84 have two sons; Greg and Malcolm, two daughters; Pam and Dee, nine grandchildren and were expecting their first great-grandchild this month.
The couple met at a 21st birthday party at Dandenong Town Hall when Joy was only 15 years old. “We didn’t know one another. I thought it would be nice if he asked for a dance and he did and that’s how it all started,” she said.
The couple married in 1952 at the Methodist Church in Dandenong. “We’ve been together for 67 years, because we were engaged for two years,” Joy adds.
Joy said when they married she was a telephonist in Dandenong.
“I worked in the bakery five years prior to that. I changed jobs six or eight months before we got married because I was wanting extra money.”
Joy said her mother thought she was “too young” when she met Ken: “She didn’t want me to marry until I was 21. We were engaged at 17 and married at 19. We didn’t have any family until I was 23.”
“We had four of our children in the next five years. It could not have been organised better, I would say. They’ve all grown up well together,” she said.
The couple have lived in Hampton Park all their married life and worked on their farm, adding it “was a real good happy life.”
They have since down-sized in their home. “It’s the best thing we’ve ever done. It’s fantastic at this stage of our life because we just love it. And Ken almost every day says ‘Gee, I just love living here.’”
When asked the key to a long-lasting marriage, the couple said: “Christian values – we’ve never had an argument, we’ve had plenty of discussions and we’ve always worked as a team.”
“We lived by our commitment to one another. That was our life. We produced a family that we’re very proud of and we’ve had life-long friends that have helped us to have a very happy life – lots of wonderful friends during our life that we’re very thankful for,” Joy said.
