This is in part, the love story of Betty and her husband Bill who are celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary in August this year.
Betty worked at a finance company called Australia Fixed Trust where she met her friend Pat Griffith. Their love story began when Betty met Bill at Pat’s wedding, and there was an instant connection!
Betty was the bridesmaid, and Bill was the best man, which was to become a trial run for their own wedding! Things changed for Betty after she met Bill. She remembers on their first date, they walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Luna Park. They eventually married at the Registry Office on7 August 1956.
After they got married, Betty and Bill initially lived with Betty’s mother in Redfern for a few months, and then they moved to Bill’s parents’ house in Craig Street, Punchbowl NSW.
In September 1960, Betty and Bill bought their own house at Grainger Avenue, Mount Pritchard, where they lived throughout their marriage and raised their family.
Betty and Bill have two daughters Cheryl Anne and Kim Frances, three grandchildren, Caitlyn, Aimee and Hannah, and three great-grandchildren, Cobie, and twins Ella and Tristan.
In her earlier days, Betty worked at Woolworths in Liverpool until it burnt down in a spectacular fire! She then went to work at Waltons in Liverpool in the manchester department until it too closed down many years later. She then worked at Spotlight, where she soon became a supervisor of the department. She received many certificates for her work ethics and completed training courses while working at Spotlight.
Betty recalls when Bill went into the national service, in the first intake for 1953 at the battle of Liverpool. They nicknamed Bill “Pancho” because he used to fall asleep all the time!
She proudly recalls that after 41 years of service at the Government Printing Office in Ultimo, Bill was awarded his medal of service from the former Premier of NSW, Nick Greiner, which was his proudest moment.
Eventually, Betty and Bill retired, and both went on to playing bowls. Betty became involved in the club and was the club Secretary for nine years at Mounties, handing over her crown in 2010.
Betty and Bill went on a holiday to Fiji, Vanuatu, Queensland and Windang. Although Bill got covered in pelican lice while fishing at Windang, they had a wonderful time.
Bill wanted to mention that after ten years of marriage, Betty tore up their wedding certificate, and then he stuck it back together with sticky tape. It is still stuck together today with the same tape, proving that sticky tape lasts as long as their marriage!
Bill visits Betty every day at Canley Vale (and he’s so proud of his consumer representative badge).
Betty and Bill are a wonderful couple, who have built a wonderful life together and we wish them a very happy 66th wedding anniversary!
