Clyde and Geraldine Brett celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Friday. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
Elizabeth Lillis
BEING able to talk to each other and discuss issues openly has been a key to an enduring marriage for Clyde and Geraldine Brett.
Mr and Mrs Brett celebrated 50 years of married life together last Friday. They met as teenagers in East Preston.
They married in 1957, the year they both turned 18.
“I lived next door to Clyde’s sister, Joan, and she introduced us,” Mrs Brett said.
They met in 1955 and in their courting years both worked in central Melbourne. They would see each other every day on the way to work.
Clyde would cycle to his job at an engineering firm and Geraldine would catch the tram to her job at the Tuberculosis Clinic. They would cross paths in Clifton Hill.
“I would wave from the tram as he went by on his bike,” Mrs Brett said.
The urge to say “hello” nearly brought Clyde undone one day.
“I got my wheel caught in the tram track,” Mr Brett said.
Mr Brett said good communication was a major part of the success of their marriage.
“It is about respect for each other, discussing things, any issue. Being able to do that is important,” he said. “If you love each other, you respect each other.
The couple has lived in a number of places throughout their marriage and feel they have had many adventures together.
Mr and Mrs Brett lived in New Zealand for over 20 years.
They returned to Victoria and lived in Monbulk before settling in Pakenham 11 years ago.
They have two children, Peter, who lives in New Zealand, and Jenny, who lives in Pakenham, and four granddaughters: Kara, Jessica, Lanna and Krista.
The couple, who live in Meadowvale village, celebrated their 50th anniversary with a dinner for 30 guests at the Pakenham Inn.
