Chance led to life together

DAVID and Daphne Fairweather will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow (Thursday).
The couple’s chance meeting as patient and nurse in Queensland just after World War II led to their marriage of 60 years.
Mr Fairweather said Daphne, who was a nurse, was asked by her cousin, a local doctor, to come and assist him in Queensland in 1946.
At the time, work regulations meant a special request had to be made to the government for Daphne to transfer to Queensland.
“I was in hospital with pneumonia when I met Daphne,” David said.
“It was love at first sight for me,” he said.
David was 23 and Daphne was 24 years of age when they met.
The couple married at the Presbyterian Church in Shepparton on 29 March 1947.
“Daphne was a very capable and competent nurse during her career.
“She was appointed matron at Castlemaine hospital,” Mr Fairweather said.
The couple farmed a property ‘The Pines’ at Catani for 30 years.
They left the farm in 1978 and Mr Fairweather ran Pakenham Bus Services in Army Road, Pakenham.
A celebratory party was held last Sunday at Hillview Aged Care Bunyip where Mrs Fairweather has been a resident for two years.
The couple’s five children, Graham, Milton, Hilton, Daryl and Colleen, all attended the celebration along with all 14 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.
Family members also travelled from interstate for the gathering.
“Our first son, Graham, was born at Shelley Memorial Hospital.
“The room where we held the party is on the site of the old hospital, which was special to us,” Mr Fairweather said.
He said they had fond memories of their retired years in which they made two world trips.
They travelled extensively through the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States and traced many of the Fairweather family descendants.
Mr Fairweather said the couple’s marriage was built on respect and care for each other.
“We made a vow and when we had problems we would talk them through and fix them up,” he said.
The couple both gave each other diamond gifts for the anniversary.
Mr Fairweather visits his wife each day.
He travels from his home in Pakenham, catching the train and riding his scooter chair, to the Hillview Aged Care to visit Mrs Fairweather.
“I just love coming to see her every day,” he said.