Tomorrow is a special day for all couples around the world, but for Bob and Nettie McMurray – who have been married for 66 years – Valentine’s Day is all about spending quality time with one another.
Nettie is a resident living at Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Abri Residential Aged Care home in Southport and has been there for the past 15 months. Devoted husband, Bob, regularly visits his wife around midday each day.
Bob was an apprentice butcher and Nettie worked in the chemist only two doors away from each other in the Melbourne CBD. This was where they both grew up. They met, fell in love, and vowed to stick together through sickness and in health.
Together they have two children and seven great-grandchildren and have spent many happy years together in their family home.
In 1956, Bob qualified for the Australian shooting team in the Summer Olympics held in Melbourne that year, known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad.
Despite appreciating the huge achievement of qualifying, Bob says he wasn’t really interested in competing and instead just wanted to marry Nettie. So, he did.
“When we got married in 1956, the Olympic Games were on in Melbourne and I was chosen for the shooting team as I was a member at the local rifle club, but we decided to get married,” he said.
“I said, you can scratch my name off the team.”
They said, ‘but this is the Olympics.’ Well, I was brought up on a farm. We didn’t have time for running and jumping over hurdles.
“The Olympics didn’t mean much to me. They said, ‘what are you doing?’ “I said, we’re getting married.”
Bob and Nettie had only gone on a few dates, but they knew straight away they were the perfect match.
After spending most of their lives in Melbourne, Bob retired in 1991 after spending 35 years as a meat inspector and it wasn’t until 2003 that they moved to the Gold Coast to be in the warmer climate.
“We haven’t regretted it. It has been wonderful,” Bob said.
“I like being here at Abri and I enjoy it,” Nettie said.
Bob is full of praise for the wonderful care and support his wife receives at Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Abri Residential Aged Care Home.
“The staff have treated her like family. The support she has received has been fantastic,” he said.
When it comes to talking about love, Bob smiles and looks at Nettie and says, “this lady has been such a sweet lady.”
“I doubt whether we’ve had a proper argument in 66 years. She is easy to live with and is a really good mum who takes great care of the kids.”
Bob plans to spend tomorrow with his wife at Abri.
Happy Valentine’s Day to Bob and Nettie!
You can watch more of Bob and Nettie’s love story on video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIOMBDdvADk&t=13s
