Golden times

By Nicole Williams
AN OFFICE romance blossomed into a life-long commitment for Leo and Joy Winter.
The couple recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with the gathering of 50 family and friends at their Narre Warren South home. The bridal party reunited especially for the occasion, with a bridesmaid travelling from Queensland.
The couple met while working at Holmesglen Housing Construction. Leo asked Joy to the movies and many more dates followed.
“He used to take me dancing and on picnics,” Mrs Winter, aged 69, said.
They married in a traditional church wedding at the East Malvern Methodist Church on Caulfield Cup Day, 15 October 1960.
“I was the luckiest person alive that day,” Mr Winter, 73, said recalling his wife walking down the aisle.
After living in Mount Waverley for 34 years, the couple moved to Narre Warren North where they lived for seven years before relocating to Narre Warren South.
“We thought we were moving to the country, but not any more,” Mrs Winter said.
Now retired and enjoying life, the couple have three children and eight grandchildren.
According to Mrs Winter, their life together has been very fortunate with good children and fine health.
She credits patience, lots of laughter and talking rather than arguing, as the ingredients for the successful marriage.
“Although there was lots of arguing in the early days,” Mrs Winter said.
In agreement, Mr Winter credits his wife’s patience and perseverance with him to their happy life together.
During their marriage, the couple have travelled extensively around Australia as well as to New Zealand and the United States.