A wonderful afternoon was spent on the family farm at Freeling on April 14, to celebrate the diamond wedding anniversary of Merv and Valray Schuster.
Family and friends from both around the state and interstate came to join in the celebrations.
Some members of the bridal party were able to be there also.
Merv’s sister Pam, who lives in Germany, was unable to make the trip so the family organised hook up and spoke to her via Messenger, with her on the TV for all to be able to join the conversation.
Hardly a dry eye in the house after that conversation.
Valray and Merv met at a dance in the Manoora Hall.
Son Gavin, said that they wore out the bitumen between Freeling and Murray Bridge (where Valray lived at the time) during their courtship.
They married at Christ Church Lutheran Church in Murray Bridge on April 11, 1959 and honeymooned in Perth.
Their plane had to land in Kalgoorlie to refuel on the way over due to a very strong head wind!
Home for almost 50 years was on the farm at Freeling until they moved to their current home in the town.
The couple had two children, Fiona and Gavin.
Later came six grandsons and one grand daughter and then four great-grandchildren.
Family holidays were spent at Port Hughes and Tasmania with Merv and Valray later visiting Fiona who was in the UK for a time as well as Merv’s sister, Pam in Germany.
Gavin and Fiona both thanked Merv and Valray for instilling in them the love of family and a strong Christian Faith.
They appreciated these traits and hope that they also can pass on the same to their own families.
Merv also spoke of their love and appreciation of family; their own and the extended family who have been a huge support to he and Valray during their 60 year marriage.
He also thanked everyone for coming along to join in their celebration- being so nice to have a happy occasion to be together rather than a funeral as is usually the case when whole families get together.