General News
5 May, 2023
Celebrating 70 years of marriage
Submitted by Carmel Bennett Brian and Myra Walsh, formerly of Dimboola, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last week with family and friends. Brian Patrick Walsh was born in Dimboola on April 22 1928, while Myra May Gooding was born on August...
Submitted by Carmel Bennett
Brian and Myra Walsh, formerly of Dimboola, celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last week with family and friends.
Brian Patrick Walsh was born in Dimboola on April 22 1928, while Myra May Gooding was born on August 1 1933.
Brian served in the Royal Australian Navy and, after being discharged in 1948, gained employment as a locomotive fireman with the Victorian Railways within two weeks. He eventually went on to gain his qualifications for driving the steam-powered locomotives.
Myra was employed in Dimboola and from the age of 16 was a keen rower.
The couple were married at St Peter’s Church of England, Dimboola, on April 11 1953 and in 1955, Brian transferred onto an electric locomotive running at Jolimont Depot in Melbourne CBD.
Brian and Myra settled in Sunshine and went on to have six children.
Brian became a foundation member of the Victorian Railway Institute in Sunshine, and in 1971 was transferred to Lilydale where the couple had a seventh child.
In 1975 they purchased land in Lilydale, and built a family home, where they remain to this day.
Brian worked on the railways until 1984 when he retired, under the early retirement scheme.
Over many years they have been involved in community and church groups, including Brian being a life member of the Probus group and Myra a life member of the CFA.
They are both active members of the Lilydale Bowling Club, bowling and playing pennant for many years and also receiving life memberships.
Over the years, they have kept their ties to Dimboola, with the children having fond memories of holidays spent in Dimboola, staying with grandparents Gordon and Gertrude Gooding in Hope Street.
Myra’s brother, Bob Gooding, and sister, Judy Neagle, still live in Dimboola
Brian and Myra have seven children (one deceased), nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in a family that loves them dearly and wish them a very happy 70th wedding anniversary.