By Brenda Pye 

Mary was born and raised in Tatura, the eldest of 5 children and Allan was born in Kyneton and raised on the family dairy farm in Stanhope. Allan observed Marys family at Mass at the Byrneside Catholic Church and later asked her for a dance at the Harston Hall. He was immediately smitten and thought this was the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Their romance blossomed and was cemented when Mary agreed to accompany Allan to the Rushworth Catholic Ball.

After three years of courtship, Mary and Allan were married at Sacred Heart Church, Tatura by Fr Michael Downey on 15 April 1961. They have enjoyed sixty years of wedded bliss and have four daughters and four sons, mostly living nearby in the Goulburn Valley with their  fifteen grandchildren. Allan commented that regardless of what the kids do, you always keep the door open and never stop loving them.

Mary and Allan have been parishioners at Saint Mary’s Mooroopna for eighteen years.
They both have found their parish to be a loving and caring community and they were made very welcome in their early days.

Mary and Allan’s faith plays a big part in their life and helps to get them through the tough times. They feel very fortunate with their in-laws and that their respective families related very well to each other over the years.

Favourite pastimes for Allan include The Lions Club, and playing and watching football, and cricket. Mary enjoys sewing, dancing and volunteering for parish and community. Together they have enjoyed many touring caravan trips around South Australia and the East Coast and had a memorable trip to Darwin in 2008 for a Lions Club convention.

They say the secret to being happily married is understanding each other and
always being prepared to give and take. They don’t always agree on everything, but have
never had a heated argument.

Congratulations Mary and Allan!