Much loved and respected couple Dick and Vida Eather recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with close friends and family at the Tamworth City Bowling Club.
When asked what was the secret to a long and happy marriage Vida said, “I was looking for a good father for my children and a man I could love.”
Mr and Mrs Eather were married on October 1, 1949 in St Laurence’s Church at Barraba by Rev H Lancaster.
Mr Eather’s brother Don Eather was his best man and Mrs Eather was attended by her bridesmaid Lynda Halloran and her niece Roslyn Barwick was flower girl.
The honeymoon was spent by jeep and caravan to Port Macquarie.
“While travelling to Port Macquarie in the open jeep the bellbird calls were very loud and plain,” Mr Eather said.
However it wasn’t plain sailing when they arrived in Port Macquarie.
As they travelled along Flynn Street to the caravan park, the caravan got bogged and when they finally got there, it was an open paddock.
They moved from Port Macquarie to Maclean to stay with friends and then onto Grafton for some formal photos.
The return trip was via Glen Innes and Inverell to their new home at ‘Bollol’ at Baan Baa.
Home was the old shearer’s quarters which were very basic, no power and a rain water tank for water.
The toilet was a track across the flat.
Mr Eather said that they eventually dug a well and connected the water, had rural power connected after a few years and slowly turned it into a much loved family home which was their home for 62 years prior to moving to Tamworth.
Both Mr and Mrs Eather were very community minded and joined in all the community activities including the P & C, hall committee, church, CWA, bush fire brigade, Pastures Protection board, pony club, golf club and dramatic society.
“We were richly rewarded by the fellowship received through these organisations,” Mr Eather said.
Mr Eather is an avid historian and has spent many hours researching and helping out the Boggabri museum.
Mrs Eather loved spending time with her family and playing golf.
Mr and Mrs Eather have two children, Steve and Lucy and they have six grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
One grandson Jono and his wife Nicky missed the celebrations as Nicky was about to give birth and are now the proud parents of a son.
Mr Eather had two brothers Peter and Harry attend the celebration and Mrs Eather had her brother Maurice Halloran and two sisters Foddy Berry and Joyce Abra.
Joyce is 99 years old and frequently comes to visit Vida and play scrabble.
Mrs Eather’s niece Roz Stortenbecker was their flower girl 70 years ago and was the only attendant left to enjoy the celebrations.
Family came from Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Port Macquarie, Narrabri, Barraba, Glen Innes, Baan Baa and Tamworth.
The weekend turned into a double celebration with two cakes and lots of good wishes as Vida celebrated her 90th birthday on September 29 and the wedding anniversary on October 1.
“They are incredible parents and I am so lucky to still have them,” said Lucy Simpson.
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