Seventy happy years

By Lachlan Ellis

A Bacchus Marsh couple have celebrated their 70th anniversary this month, and while 70 years seems like a long time, they say it “hasn’t felt like a long time at all”.

Betty and Geoff Nelson got married in Numurkah on 6 December 1952, moved from Pascoe Vale to Bacchus Marsh in 1990, and have lived at the Royal Freemasons aged care residence since October 2018.

They met at the Women’s Hospital, where Betty worked as a nurse and Geoff as a plumber, and after having her two children, Ms Nelson worked at Yooralla in Pascoe Vale.

While it’s not a secret per se, the couple attribute their long marriage to “never arguing” and leading busy lives.

“I don’t know if there’s a secret. Geoff worked and I worked, we used to have a busy life. Geoff’s a Freemason, we had a very busy life before we moved to Royal Freemasons,” Ms Nelson said.

“I’ve been a Freemason for 68 years and was a member of the Avenue Bowling Club and Bacchus Marsh Bowling Club. I was Sponsorship Director at the Avenue, coordinating sponsors for tournaments,” Mr Nelson added.

Ms Nelson also volunteered at the Hospital Op Shop in Bacchus Marsh, and was a Hospital Auxiliary Member for 27 years.

To celebrate the anniversary, the couple had their daughters and their families over at Royal Freemasons for a morning tea.

Along with their two children, Mr and Mrs Nelson have five grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.

The couple agreed that their most treasured memories during their married life was the birth of their two daughters.