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    DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY: Horsham’s John and Barbara Eldridge celebrate 60 years of marriage – they wed at Dimboola on January 9, 1965. Picture: Bronwyn Hastings

A road well-travelled together for Horsham couple

Horsham couple John and Barbara Eldridge are celebrating 60 years of marriage, a union which has taken them from homes at Dimboola and Horsham, to thousands of kilometres in travelling holidays in-between. 

In 1963, then student nurse Miss Norton met railway employee Mr Eldridge at a Horsham Church of England Maytime ball. 

Mrs Eldridge said she had very little money at the time, so had made her own dress for the occasion.

“My friends and I used to buy curtain material and sow our own dresses, and we’d do our own hair,” she said.



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Mr Eldridge said he tried to contact Miss Norton a few times before he was successful in securing a date.

“It took a bit of persuading on my part, it was about the third time I’d telephoned that she agreed to go out with me,” he said.

Mrs Eldridge said she was put off because she ‘was broke’ at the time, still studying and living in hospital accommodation. 

The couple was married by Vicar Neville Thulbourne on a 40-degree day at Dimboola’s Anglican Church, where the bride’s mother and daughter both wed. Their reception was at the town’s VRI hall. 

Mrs Eldridge said they credit having similar interests as a factor in their marriage’s longevity.

“Just doing things together – we enjoy doing the same things: travel, golf, and being involved with our children and grandchildren,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Eldridge have three children – Jenny, James and Greg – and seven grandchildren  who live in several different places.

Mrs Eldridge said they are planning to visit their daughter and her family at their Malaysia home later this year.

“We are looking forward to going to one of our grandchildren’s weddings in June – a traditional Chinese wedding in Malaysia,” she said.

Mr Elridge said they were looking forward to the next stage of life.

“We might get to be great-grandparents soon, if we live long enough,” he said.

The couple celebrated their anniversary with a dinner with friends on Thursday.