Couples celebrate diamond anniversary

Two Peninsula couples have celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary this month.

Don and Daphne Eagle of Umina and John and Shirley Twiner of Patonga celebrated with family and friends and will also have a second honeymoon.

Don and Daphne's daughter Judy said being married for 60 years was quite significant these days given that so many marriages did not last the distance.

After moving from Brisbane to the Peninsula in 1954, the Eagles spent several months in Adelaide before returning to Ettalong from 1955 to 1961 where Don began practicing as a Baptist Minister.

The couple now live together at Peninsula Village where Don served as the Honorary Chaplin until 2008.

The Eagle's were married at Rosalie Baptist Church on March 11, 1950, after meeting at the Greenslopes Baptist Church in Brisbane.

Their union has brought the couple great joy welcoming into the world one daughter and two sons, followed by 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild many years later.

Don considers his best memories from the past 60 years to be the help and love shown from his wife after serving people in Pastoral ministry and bringing up their wonderful family.

He said the secret to a happy and successful marriage was shown through having a wonderful Christian marriage and children.

As part of their anniversary celebration, the Eagles will fly to Darwin before travelling to the Red Centre by The Ghan rail service.

Patonga couple John and Shirley Twiner will also celebrate their special day with a trip away after enjoying holidays together each year since their honeymoon.

Friends since childhood, a first date to the picture theatre started a life time of romance for the Twiners, and after three years of courtship the couple were married at St Paul's Church in Bankstown on March 25, 1950.

After raising their two daughters in Yagoona, the Twiners moved to Patonga on their retirement.

John, a World War II veteran stationed in Moratai, worked for Qantas before his retirement while Shirley ran her own dance studio which has been continued by her two daughters as the Twiner-Anderson School of Dance.

Through John's continuous work with Rowe St Musicals (now Ashfield Musical Society) since 1972, he has been awarded the Australia Day Citizen of the Year award and the Bicentennial Commemorative Medal.

At the age of 84, John still remains the president of the society while the couple are both committee and life members of the society.

John and Shirley said they loved spending their spare time with their four grandsons and granddaughter and last year welcomed a great granddaughter.

Letter, 3 Mar 2010 Judy Bolas, Umina Letter, 21 Feb 2010 Wendy Twiner, Patonga