General News
11 October, 2024
Allans mark golden anniversary
For five decades of harmonious marriage, Maryborough locals Irene and Murray Allan have been lovers entwined.
Countless romantic sayings and cliches could describe their half-century of matrimony. Yet the ‘apple of my eye’ is a rather poetic phrase given how the childhood sweethearts met as teenagers.
“My best friend and I were playing tennis with apples because we couldn’t find a tennis ball and one went over and hit the roof where Murray was with his mate,” Irene said.
“They came bolting out the back and I went around there and met Murray and the rest is history.”
Aged 20 and 22, Irene and Murray married at St Augustine’s Church on Saturday, October 5, 1974.
Not long after they welcomed their son Jason into the world in 1976, followed by daughter Jackie in 1979. Both children have gone to marry, and Irene and Murray are now proud grandparents of five granddaughters.
Reflecting on their anniversary, Irene said her time spent with the love of her life continues to fly by.
“It’s amazing really because it doesn’t feel like 50 years,” she said.
“We had a really enjoyable [celebration] Saturday night with family and friends and it sort of took us back to when we were younger and were able to get out and mingle.”
Murray agreed with his wife and said the pair have always cherished their time together.
“It’s a good achievement to get that far because there are not many people these days who go the whole way in their marriage,” he said.
“We enjoy each other’s company so much, just being together and going out and having fun — we play sports together and we have travelled so we have done a lot of things.”
While a long and fruitful relationship can always be challenging, Irene believes the puzzle has a simple solution.
“Honesty, you have got to be able to discuss everything and bounce off each other,” she said.
“We never really had any major blow-ups — if we did argue he would never argue back, because he is the quiet one and I’m the one that can get a bit riled up.”
In terms of Murray’s words of wisdom.
“Silence is gold,” he said.
“Nothing’s hidden, you keep everything up front, honesty is the big one in every relationship and if you can’t do that you are in trouble.”