Right: Doveton’s Betty and Ernie Brown will mark 50 years of marriage this Saturday. Below: The happy couple on their wedding day in 1955.By Sarah Schwager
THEY say love conquers all, but perhaps footy does too.
A Doveton couple will leave their 50th wedding anniversary celebrations until next week, with one half choosing to go to Doveton’s football final on Saturday instead.
Betty and Ernie Brown have lived in the area for 46 years and Mr Brown, 77, has been a loyal Doveton supporter for the last 40 years.
But Mrs Brown, 76, said there was a number of other reasons they were holding off the celebrations, not just the football final.
Mrs Brown, who cannot go to the football for health reasons, said she did not mind that they would not be spending their anniversary together.
“We’re together all the time anyway. We’re always in each other’s pockets. I couldn’t be without him,” she said.
The couple has been involved in the Doveton community, and football, for many years.
Three of their sons played for the team and grandson Ryan Brown, 21, currently plays for the side.
Mr and Mrs Brown have five children, 12 grandchildren and one greatgrandson.
“We have had a great life. The boys used to play sport and our daughter did girl guides and dancing,” Mrs Brown said.
“It’s a lovely place. I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
Mrs Brown was also involved in the Arthritis Group when it was in Doveton.
Mr Brown worked for 30 years at General Motors and retired 16 years ago.
Afterwards they travelled to England and Europe and have since travelled to New Zealand and around Australia.
“We do a bus trip once a month, three, fiveday trips, whatever’s going at the time,” Mrs Brown said.
She said their children had bought them a mobile phone so they could keep in contact but, since they didn’t like it, they settled on an answering machine instead.
“They are all very good to us. We are very lucky, very fortunate,” she said.
“When we first came to Doveton it was a big struggle. Now we’ve got everyone around us.”
Mr Brown grew up in Yarraville and Mrs Brown lived in Moorabbin.
They met at a square dance at Leggetts Ballroom in Prahran.
They were married at St Peter’s Cathedral in the city and lived at her father’s house for the first four years of their marriage.
Mrs Brown said they were both very fortunate to have made it to their 50th wedding anniversary.
“We think it’s wonderful. Not everyone gets that far in their marriage,” she said.
“We have lots of lovely memories.”
Mrs Brown was diagnosed with bladder cancer in June 2000.
She has also had to have a triple heart bypass.
“We had a bit of a rough time there for a while,” she said.
Mr Brown also had heart problems, spending five weeks in hospital.
Mrs Brown said at the moment there was strife in the household as she barracked for Melbourne while her husband was a Collingwood supporter.
“I’m the one laughing now,” she said.
The couple will hold their anniversary party on Saturday, 10 September at the Oak Avenue Hall in Doveton.
About 70 friends and family members are expected to come to the party.
