But for Maria and Frank Mete, Sunday, December 17 was their 70th wedding anniversary.
Their love story spans decades and was born in the devastation of post-war Conflenti, in southern Italy.
“We met at my sister’s place,” Maria said.
“Because my sister was married to Frank’s uncle.”
The couple married in 1953 at a traditional Italian wedding.
And while these days couples are more likely to head straight off to a honeymoon together, Maria and Frank soon separated - geographically speaking.
Like many Italians at this time, Frank travelled to Australia to build a better life for his new family.
Frank’s move down under, just three weeks after the wedding, meant he wouldn’t see his new bride again until 1956 when she joined him to start a new life in Australia.
Even though the couple had decided upon this period of separation before the marriage, it was still challenging, but Maria and Frank accepted it as something that had to be done.
“It was very hard,” Frank said.
“We wrote letters every day to keep in touch.”
“At the time, that was how things were,” Maria said.
When the couple were reunited, they spent several years in Melbourne before they moved to Cobram, where they bought an orchard.
Maria has nothing but good things to say about Cobram.
“It’s a beautiful town,” she said.
The couple ran the orchard for 50 years while simultaneously raising five kids.
The couple’s favourite memory was and remains the arrival of their children.
The family has since grown to include 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
When asked what their favourite thing to do as a couple was, Frank laughed.
“We worked together,” he said.
According to Frank though, one of the best things about his wife was that she was a great cook.
Working, living and raising a family together would naturally cause the occasional argument.
Still, Frank’s advice to any couple, borne out of his successful marriage, was not to let arguments overwhelm the relationship.
“Sometimes you just have to let it (the argument) go,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Maria, who said a successful relationship was about teamwork.
“You give and you take. That’s life,” she said.
When asked what one of the most significant things couples could do to succeed was, Frank said it was to work hard and save.
“Work hard and try and save as much as you can,” he said.
“Otherwise, it doesn’t matter if you work; if you spend, you’ll be in the same situation.”
For Maria, communication and love were the most essential ingredients for a healthy, long-term relationship.
“Tell each other what you’re going to do and love each other. Love will keep it going,” she said.
That love has seen the couple thrive in a country on the opposite side of the worldfrom where they grew up. And now that their work life is complete, Maria and Frank plan to spend the rest of their time relaxing and seeing their family thrive.
“It’s a beautiful life to see them (the family) happy,” Maria said.
The Courier congratulates Maria and Frank on reaching the massive milestone.
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