Mr and Mrs Wheeler married seventy years

Roy and Esther Wheeler were married for 70 years on April 27, 2020.

It was not quite a celebration due to COVID-19 restrictions, however the couple received many phone calls and spent a good part of the day talking to and being congratulated by family and friends.

Roy and Esther (nee Preston), were married in the Narrabri Registry office on April 27, 1950 with two attendants present.

“Everyone said it wouldn’t last,” said Mr Wheeler.

Seventy years later, the couple, now 94 and 85, are still going strong.

They have seven children aged from 69 to 54, four girls and three boys.

Mr Wheeler was born in Wee Waa and for 50 years cut sleepers for the railway and due to failing eyesight had to retire.

Before the couple were married Esther worked at Dr Jones’ surgery, which became Dr Anderson’s practice and was located where Woolworths is now.

For the past sixty years the couple have been living on a hobby farm of 500 acres on the edge of Jack’s Creek forest on the Gun Club Road.

Mr Wheeler said they named the property ‘Lemnos’ like the island as no one lived out that way, now people are everywhere he added.

When asked what was the secret to a long and happy marriage Mr Wheeler said “give and take”.