CONGRATULATIONS: 60th Wedding Anniversary

Appendicitis proved lucky for Rea Jordan back in the day when you spent a fortnight in hospital and another six weeks recuperating.
It was during that time off after his operation that Rea - an Irish name pronounced Ray - visited relatives in Opunake. Rea's cousin introduced him to her best friend, Aileen Wolfe, and the rest, as they say, is history.
On April 30, 1949, they married and, not long after, Rea took his pretty, petite young bride back to his farm at Waimata, near Waihi.
"A town girl off to live in the country and I loved it. I always loved the farm life," Aileen says.
Rea (83) and Aileen (81) have recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, an occasion shared by four generations of family - including their three children, and a good showing of their nine grandchildren and five "greaties". Among the wellwishers were Rae's sister and Aileen's sister who were bridesmaids at their wedding.
Listening to the couple talk, it's obvious much of the good times and mutual respect their long marriage is based on came from working together - on the farm, during holidays, on a raft of committees.
Rea said he never really chose to be a farmer but was expected to follow his father on to the land. Later on, he became involved in agricultural business and governance, taking to it like a duck to water.
His role as chairman of a woolscourers' association took Rea and Aileen to China to tee-up a pioneer business partnership with the communist government. Among the people Rea battled with on behalf of New Zealand producers was the infamous Madame Chen, a government appointee on the finance committee funding China's role.
"We had quite a battle. I learned an awful lot from the Chinese. Their culture is so old and you can tell the difference. They have had time to learn that tomorrow is just one more day and after that there will be another day and another ..."
Rea is a life member of Auckland Federated Farmers - "but I don't bother Federated Farmers these days".
He also chalked up many years on the former Ohinemuri County Council, many school committees and sport and recreation clubs.
Where Rea was, more often than not, so too was Aileen. She spent years with the Women's Division of Federated Farmers, the same recreation activities and clubs, the school committees. They joke that many a time the chairman and secretary of various organisations were known to be sleeping together.
After the farm came 26 years at Waihi Beach, then seven years ago the couple moved to Whangarei - a town they happily now call home. Their son, Michael, and his family live here while daughters Margaret and Robyn live in Tauranga.
The well-travelled couple say among their happiest memories are the years they spent treating their grandchildren and other relatives - two at a time - to holidays overseas, mainly to the Pacific islands.
These days, the couple enjoy exploring Northland.
"There's a beach down every road up here," Aileen said.
They have great neighbours in a friendly street, have three younger generations of family nearby, like to go for walks and get out in the garden, and take a keen interest in current affairs.
They've never had a violent disagreement and believe the secret to a happy marriage is always being able to talk things through and work together towards a goal. "But, now, if anyone says the word committee, we run a mile," says Aileen.
"Retirement means you can do what you want to do and on the day you feel like doing it," says Rea.
And after 60 happy years together, they look forward to many more tomorrows.