Teen Sweethearts Celebrate 75 Years of Marriage

Childhood sweethearts Jocelyn and Arthur Clarke celebrated a remarkable 75th wedding anniversary at the brand new TriCare Ashgrove earlier this month. The significant milestone, spanning decades of major economic and social change, proves that true love has no expiry date and holds fasts under all circumstances.

Surrounded by loved ones including their four daughters at their residential aged care home, the couple - both in their mid-90s - reflected on the many decades they have enjoyed together.

Arthur still recalls seeing Jocelyn for the first time at the local tennis club in the early 1940s.

“I remember thinking, ‘She doesn’t look too bad’,” he says cheekily.

On that fortuitous day, Jocelyn and Arthur bonded over their love of sports and were wed in 1948 at St Matthews Church in Sherwood at age 20 and 21 respectively.

At the anniversary celebration, Jocelyn proudly wore the shiny pearls she had around her neck on the day of her wedding more than seven decades ago.

In the leafy suburb of Ashgrove, the newlyweds built their family home in 1951 before going on to welcome four daughters.

“We’re very grateful, and we’re very blessed because we think we’ve had the best parents ever,” said one of their daughters, Jan Gehrke.

The couple are amongst the first to call the newly established TriCare Residential Aged Care facility in Ashgrove home. It’s here they continue to sleep side by side each evening.

According to Arthur, the secret to sustaining a lifelong marriage is simple: “We love each other.”

“We’re very lucky, that’s about all I can tell you,” added Jocelyn.

Marjorie Davie, Residential Manager at TriCare Ashgrove, was touched to have taken part in the Clarkes' marriage celebrations.

“It’s heart-warming to support people who have been married for 75 years and help them continue on that journey even while they’re in residential aged care.

“We are honoured to be a part of their remarkable love story, and we wish them many more years of love, laughter and friendship.”

TriCare Ashgrove is Queensland’s first premium aged care facility. It boasts spacious rooms twice the size of most with couples and singles rooms available.

More like a resort than an aged care residence, it is situated right beside Brisbane Broncos HQ and provides residents access to a café, hair salon, private dining room and sky lounge.

Click here to find out more about TriCare