By Vanessa Chircop
LAST Thursday Max and June Hall-Bentick celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
The couple who have been living in Altona for 53 years celebrated with family and friends at the Altona Sports Lawn Bowls Club on Sunday.
Max was a country boy born in Lismore in 1924 while June was a city girl born in Williamstown in 1928.
When asked what was the key to staying together for 60 years, June joked: “The main thing is to both stay alive.”
But then added it was all about give and take.
The couple met in 1950 when June and her sister Alice changed their holiday plans at the last minute from Port Campbell to Port Fairy.
Whilst staying at Secombe House in Port Fairy, the sisters met Max the train driver and Harold the school teacher.
By June the next year both couples were married with each couple were in each other’s bridal parties.
“It would have been their 60th anniversary this year,” June said.
Sadly June’s sister died in February this year a month shy of her diamond anniversary with Harold.
“We were saying how lucky we would be to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary with our best man and bridesmaid.”
Despite their years of marriage, the mother of four and grandmother of one said she didn’t know where all the time had gone.
“When you think back it only seems like yesterday,” June said reminiscing about her wedding day.
“In those days you didn’t have the big weddings they have these days.
“But it was beautiful.”
