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Respect is the secret to marriage, according to Violet and Joe McNutt, of Roxburgh, with their wedding photo from 1946. Photo by Sarah Marquet. |
Joe and Violet McNutt, who are celebrating their 65th wedding
anniversary today, credit respect, support and taking an
interest in each other's interests for their lengthy
marriage.
"We are all different so you have to respect each other's
views and be supportive of each other's activities and take
an interest in what they do," Mrs McNutt said.
"We also have a very supportive family. We have done right
from the very early years."
The Roxburgh couple's actual anniversary is tomorrow but they
will celebrate today by taking the family out to lunch in
South Otago.
Joe (87) and Violet (88) met through mutual friends after
Violet, then 22, was employed as a teacher at Patearoa
Primary School and moved into the Styx Hotel in Paerau.
Joe, who was 21, worked as a handyman at the hotel, which his
family owned.
They were married in 1946, a year later, at the St Andrew's
Church of Christ in Dunedin and the following year bought a
sheep, beef and grain farm in Waitepeka in partnership with
Joe's brother who, coincidentally, married Violet's sister.
"It was real happy families," she said.
They had two children: Ian, who now has three daughters, and
Pam, who now has three sons.
"We also have 10 great-grandchildren," Mrs McNutt said,
proudly gesturing towards a side table covered in
photographs.
In 1984, the couple left the farm and moved to Wanaka to
"supposedly retire".
However, they found life there was busier than expected.
"We found ourselves involved in clubs, community groups and
other activities," Mrs McNutt said.
Almost four years ago they moved to Roxburgh, where they now
live to "be closer to family".
They still keep themselves busy.
Mrs McNutt said she had been a member of the Women's
Institute since 1953 and, through that, attends Probus club
meetings and plays bowls.
Mr McNutt also plays bowls and is a keen gardener and fly
fisherman, though he says he no longer fishes as much as he
would like to.
The couple also used to play badminton together, and
represented South Otago as a doubles team.
"I reckon we were the only couple that did not have a row on
court," Mr McNutt said.
Looking towards the celebratory lunch today, Mrs McNutt said:
"It is such a blessing that we still have each other at this
age and that we have a supportive family."
sarah.marquet@odt.co.nz
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