Narre Warren’s Hugh and Grace Mahoney are celebrating 50 years of marriage.
By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren couple will celebrate 50 years of love and commitment tomorrow when they mark their golden wedding anniversary.
Grace and Hugh Mahoney first met at a local dance in their former home suburb of Glen Waverley and maintained contact through meetings at a local scout group.
The pair married some 18 months later and now have four adult daughters and four granddaughters.
The Mahoneys exchanged vows at St Paul’s Church in Glen Waverley, followed by a reception at the Mechanics Institute Hall on Springvale Road.
The hall burnt down three months after the pair’s nuptials but the fire was certainly not a bad omen for the couple who have enjoyed a long and happy marriage.
Mr Mahoney, 71, a former carriage builder on the railways, was forced into early retirement more than 10 years ago after a workplace accident.
He jokingly said the key to a good marriage was ‘Doing as Directed’ but added that their love for each other and their family had ensured a long marriage.
Mrs Mahoney, 69, agreed and said the love and commitment their family shared was the most special part of their marriage.
The pair has travelled overseas four times since they married, taking in Europe and America. They will travel to Cairns in July to mark their anniversary.
They are also active members of both the Glen Waverley and Cranbourne Senior Citizens clubs, and regularly play bingo.
On Saturday, family and friends will gather at the Stamford Hotel to commemorate their 50 years together.
One daughter has already presented the pair with a wooden photo frame with their image etched inside to mark the special occasion.
The image was taken at their granddaughter’s 21st birthday earlier this year. Mrs Mahoney said the birthday celebration and her granddaughter’s university graduation had been one of the proudest occasions of their marriage.
She said the birth of her children, their weddings and the arrival of her grandchildren had also been some of the major highlights during her 50-year marriage.
But she said the family had experienced some down times such as when one daughter was diagnosed with alopecia and another experienced a bad accident as a child that left her disabled.
“There have been down times but then there have been lots and lots of ups during our marriage,” Mrs Mahoney said.
