Sweethearts celebrate 70 years of marriage

More than 75 years ago two neighbours become good friends – and then more – in a tiny farming community west of Beaudesert.

Now lifelong sweethearts Alwyn and Doris Pfeffer have reached a major milestone, celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on November 11.

Doris lives at Carinity Hilltop aged care in Kelvin Grove while Alwyn is still in the family home of 70 years at Ashgrove. He visits Doris almost every day and is assisted at home by Carinity Home Care.

Alwyn, 94 and Doris, 91, have been a couple for 75 years.

They met as children at Charlwood State School, in the Scenic Rim region, and grew up on neighbouring dairy farms.

They didn’t attend high school as they worked on the family farms but caught up at Sunday School at their local church and attended the same community functions.

After being paired together for a community bushwalk at Cunningham’s Gap, the then teenagers began courting and were engaged five years later.

“We were paired off for the walk and Doris and I were a pair – and we’ve been a pair ever since,” Alwyn says.

Alwyn and Doris were married in Kalbar on 11 November 1950 then moved to Ashgrove.

Doris and Alwyn both agree that times were much simpler when they were growing up and in the early years of their courting.

Farm life was so busy that they had very little time for anything else. They enjoyed attending church and community functions.

Alwyn worked as a wool classer in Brisbane for more than 40 years while Doris was a housemaker who cared for their three sons. The couple travelled overseas to places such as Africa and Britain.

They are long-time members of Ashgrove Baptist Church, where Alwyn was a Sunday School teacher for 25 years and Doris catered for social functions.

Alwyn believes a good marriage will endure if couples, ‘Have the same goals and hobbies, have good communication, are tolerant, don’t place your own views first, and learn to compromise.”

Doris’ secret to a happy marriage is: “If you have a disagreement just let the other person think they are right – even if you know they aren’t.”

Alwyn and Doris have nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.