FANCY footwork drew people to each other during the time when Saturday night dances were regular fixtures on the social calendar.
So it was for talented dancers Laurie Peacock and Dorothy Simons one December night in 1944, when they first laid eyes on each other.
“We were attracted straight off; it was just one of those things,” Dorothy recalled.
Less than two years later they were married, and 70 years on they have celebrated a rare wedding anniversary.
A quick Google search by Dorothy – who has kept pace with changing technology during her 93 years – revealed that 70 years of marriage is known as a platinum anniversary.
They were married at St John’s Anglican Church in Kerang on October 26, 1946, in front of a small gathering of family and friends.
Laurie had been born into one of Kerang’s founding families and was raised on the family farm on the Murrabit Road, while Dorothy grew up at Koondrook and was on leave from her duties as an Army driver stationed at Bonegilla when she met her future husband.
Dorothy left the army soon after their encounter, and worked at the clothing factory in Nolan Street before getting married.
Their first child, Ron, was born in 1948, followed by Alan in 1950, Mervyn in 1955 and Sandra in 1962.
They bought their own farm – a lignum-covered block adjacent to Pyramid Creek on the Murrabit Road – in 1953, building a house and starting out with eight cows.
“Everybody was in the same boat, nobody had any money and there was a lot more of people helping one another,” Dorothy said.
Laurie said inevitably there had been tough times, but they had made it through together.
“There’s been a lot of hard work but that’s what makes it a good life,” Laurie said.
The farm developed during the years and in 1979 Mervyn took over and Laurie and Dorothy bought a new property west of Kerang.
Alan took over that property in 1985 and Laurie and Dorothy moved to their current home at what was then the edge of town in Boundary Street.
“When we came here it was all paddocks behind us and I think that was the only reason I agreed to come,” Dorothy said.
Laurie remained heavily involved with the farm, and it wasn’t until about four years ago that he stopped helping out regularly.
Since then a new interest has given him a renewed lease of life.
“I went up to the Men’s Shed and found it was pretty good so I kept going,” he said.
He is also busy building new jumps for the Kerang Pony Club, of which both he and Dorothy are founding life members.
Dorothy also continues her six-decade long involvement with the Anglican Church.
Keeping up with a vast family is a challenge – they have 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, many of whom will be gathering on Saturday for the platinum celebration.
“I didn’t think there would be so much fuss but the family has other ideas,” Dorothy said.
It is an occasion the couple has keenly anticipated, and one that is most deserved.
