By Renee Wood
It’s not very often a couple reaches their 60th wedding anniversary, but when the milestone arrives it sure proves time for a wonderful celebration of love, family and community.
That’s just the case with happy couple Jim and Diana Viggers from Yarra Glen who’re marking their 60th wedding anniversary on Thursday 25 August.
Many community members would have come to know Jim and Diana since they moved to the Yarra Valley in 1985.
Jim was the last Healesville Shire president, serving 1993 and 1994 before the amalgamation and both have always been actively involved in local community groups and volunteering positions. Including Diana volunteering at the Healesville Living and Learning Centre and at the former Yarra Valley Tourism Information Centre.
They have always believed in supporting one another through everything and always taking an interest in what one another does is important.
“We’ve done everything together and supported each other. I think that’s the most important thing,” Diana said.
“Life goes very quickly, so you make the most of every day and appreciate every day and enjoy every day.”
They met at an Oakleigh Bowling Club dance and were married in 1962, raising three children, Karen, Paul and Fiona.
Jim and Diana have had many highlights during their marriage, while standing together through life’s ups and downs and following where life lead them.
For Jim this meant a lot of places, as he worked in senior roles with Melbourne Water, including as Water Supply Head Works and Distribution Manager, which meant the family relocated to towns across Melbourne and Victoria, including Warburton.
As they moved, Diana’s career in education was always in demand as local schools were in need of a new teacher. This includes teaching at the Badger Creek Primary School after moving to the region, before working as the music teacher at the formerly named Croydon West School.
In 1985, the family settled in the Yarra Valley in Tarrawarra on Old Healesville Road, somewhere many locals may have fond memories of after they opened a vineyard and cellar door called the Yarra Track in the 1990s.
The pair supported local tourism and launched the pivotal Yarra Valley Small Wineries Group and began The Shortest Lunch, and both still remain today.
The 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires sadly swept through their property, as they lost everything but their home.
The cattle yards and vineyard took the biggest hit, losing all of their stock and acres of vines to the ferocious blaze.
After this, Diana was active in instigating a ‘Bushfire Guard’ and Women’s and Mixed gatherings groups to support one another after the devastation.
This is something the pair continue to drive today, as everyone comes together in times of need and as a community.
“I think it’s because of this camaraderie support and help each other… anyone needs help we support and it’s just terrific. Got to know each other,” Diana said.
Diamonds are precious, valuable and form after years of pressure, which is a testament to the happy couple who’ve reached the milestone.
Jim said the secret to having a long and happy marriage is patience with a small laugh.
“We were in everything… even though we had our individual activities, we support each other. You can’t do anything on your own,” Jim said.
The pair are very grateful to have reached their 60th Anniversary and to celebrate it in the place they love, the Yarra Valley.
“We are blessed that we’ve got each other and that we live in such a beautiful area – yes we’re very blessed. We love each other and support each other because we’ve grown together really,” Dianna said.
