Love glitters for 60 years

By Kath Gannaway
LOVE was in the air at the Yarra Junction Aged Care Facility last week when Jack and Gladys Carpenter celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Holding hands and quite unapologetically making eyes at each other, the couple reflected on a beautiful wedding day in England on 15 June, 1946 and 60 wonderful years together.
Despite Jack’s ill-health, Gladys said they considered themselves very lucky, particularly to be able to be together at Yarra Junction.
Gladys had been caring for Jack at home when she fell and broke her hip.
“Jack moved in here and the lovely people kept a room for me. At least we’re under the same roof,” she said.
The Carpenters came to Australia in 1965.
Jack had developed a liking for the warmer weather during World War II in North Africa and doctors had suggested a change of climate might do the trick for pneumonia which plagued the younger of their two boys.
Australia seemed just the spot – and it was. Both said they had never regretted making the move and were tremendously proud of the fact that within just nine months of arriving they had bought a block of land and moved into their new home. They are also very proud grandparents with three grand children and one great grand child.
Their secret to a long and happy marriage doesn’t seem all that much of a secret – they’re obviously devoted to each other – none-the-less they do have some words of wisdom to offer.
“There must be friendship in a marriage,” Gladys said. “And remember, each one of us is a separate identity with different thoughts about different things.”
Jack agreed: "Sometimes you have to agree to disagree.”
Gladys said an old adage they had tried to live by was: “Never let the sun go down on a quarrel – resolve any differences before you go to bed.”
Jack gives a gentle squeeze of his wife’s hand as she shares one more simple insight: “We’ve always looked after each other.”