Love Story Carries on After More Than 60 Years

After almost 60 years of marriage, the love lives on for Mercy Place Westcourt’s resident Don Campbell and his wife Lorraine, who are 83 and 77 years of age respectively.

The pair will celebrate their 58^th Valentine’s Day as a married couple, just three days before their 59^th wedding anniversary on 17 March.

Lorraine, a born and bred Gordonvale girl, met Don – who was born in Toowoomba – when he came into the newsagency she worked for to buy a newspaper.

“The RSL in Gordonvale had lots of dances in those days, and after that first meeting, Don turned up one Saturday night with three of his friends from Toowoomba, all of whom had travelled to Gordonvale as cane cutters to make some money,” explains Lorraine.

“Don could certainly dance, which caught my attention, and the rest really is history. We were married three years later, on 17 March 1962, settled in Bayview, and had our children Garry and Lynette a few years later.”

According to the couple, the secret to a happy marriage is to give and take, and also being lucky enough to have a large circle of happy friends to socialise with.

“Don had many jobs including at Webb Brothers Ice Works, Hancocks Sawmill and then at a butcher’s suppliers, and I worked at Woolworths and also as a merchandiser for a few different companies around Cairns, but we have always put each other first during our marriage,” says Lorraine.

Mercy Place Westcourt’s Acting Service Manager, Belinda Harvey, says Lorraine and Don have had, and continue to have, a wonderful partnership and epitomise what Valentine’s Day is all about – having true commitment and respect for each other, as well as love.

“They are well-known in our Mercy Place community and are clearly still devoted to each other, despite the fact that Don lives with us now at Mercy Place Westcourt,” she says.

“We are very keen to make this Valentine’s Day extra special for them as they are the loveliest couple, and they obviously still think the world of each other. It will be wonderful to see them celebrate Valentine’s Day.”

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