A LOCAL couple are today celebrating a major milestone in their lives and a rare event in the life of any couple.
Cyril and Yvonne Jacobs, of Holder, celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary today. They were married May 27, 1950, in the Waikerie Methodist Church by Reverend Miller.
Cyril, who will turn 96 in June, and Yvonne (nee Bell) who is 93, were both born and educated in Waikerie, raising, in turn, their own family in Holder.
The couple remember distinctly how they met – although the exact year is in question.
“Yvonne was working as a shop assistant at the local Landseer’s store, around 1948, and I saw her in the window as I passed by,” Mr Jacobs said.
“I immediately went into the shop to find out her name, but I was served by another girl and had to go back a second time to meet Yvonne.”
Mrs Jacobs, however, said the year they met was 1947, as their first date was at a local ball.
“We were engaged for about 18 months and courted for a bit before that, and our first date was at the Waikerie Institute,” she said.
“Balls were popular back then, and while I don’t exactly remember the specifics of that first date, we must have had a lovely time.”
Mr Jacobs is a World War II veteran, having served in the Royal Australian Navy Reserve for about three years, and marking his 21st birthday aboard a naval ship during the war.
Humble about his service in the navy decades ago, Mr Jacobs is nonetheless one of Waikerie’s few remaining WWII veterans, and is an avid member of the local RSL branch.
Prior to, and following his years of service, he was a horticulturalist, growing grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. He is still a keen gardener, social golfer and bowler, and served on the Waikerie Council as a councillor for more than 10 years back in the 1970 and 80s.
“I still keep up-to-date with the local council’s activities, though of course it’s all very different now,” he said.
“For one thing, when I was a councillor it was purely a volunteer position, and we did not get much money.
“I’m happy now spending time in the garden and in the shed, fixing household and garden contraptions.”
The couple’s family has dubbed Mr Jacobs “second-hand Cyril”, as he always finds a way to re-purpose what most would discard.
He was also a member of the now-defunct Waikerie Community Association, which raised money over the years for upgrades around the town through Queen’s Competitions.
Following their marriage, Mrs Jacobs helped her husband in the orchards and took charge of their house as they raised three children Peter (deceased), Sandra and Vicki.
They also have seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mrs Jacobs shares her husband’s enjoyment in social bowls and gardening, and she is also an avid and talented oil painter. For many years, she worked as a volunteer at Waikerie Meals on Wheels, for which she is now a client.
The couple still lives in their marital home at Holder, which has been heavily extended over the years and has an extensive garden they both take pride in.
When asked what the secret to a long and happy marriage is, Mrs Jacobs said it is about tolerance and “choosing the right partner”.
“We have similar temperaments and enjoy similar activities, so being able to enjoy time together has been very important,” she said.
“We’re very lucky to still be living at our own home, and extend our thanks to Waikerie Meals on Wheels and SA Country Health for that, as well as family for all their support.”
Mr and Mrs Jacobs received a letter from Queen Elizabeth, and a letter from the Governor-General David Hurley – amongst others – congratulating them on their anniversary.
While they celebrate quietly today, they said they hope to enjoy the occasion once the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
A husband traditionally gifts his wife with platinum for a 70th wedding anniversary. Platinum metal is a rare and precious – and the same rings true with Cyril and Yvonne Jacobs in their 70 years of marriage.