Anne and Brian O’Meara rarely disagree, in fact, in 60 years of marriage they have never had a “blow up”.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
There is, however, some conjecture about just how their first date came about — when Anne approached the then-butcher about being her partner at the 1958 Debutante Ball.
Brian seems to think his decision to purchase a new Austin A95 Westminster may have influenced Anne’s decision to “pop the question” for the debutante partnership.
“It was a smart move on her behalf, but a smarter move on mine to say ‘yes’,” Brian said.
Training the eight couples, a number who remain friends of the O’Mearas, involved in that St Augustine’s debutante ball were Jim and Aileen Barrett.
Their first official date was to see the film Little Women and they were married on February 9, 1963.
That is quite timely considering this year’s World Marriage Day will be celebrated on February 12 only a couple of days before arguably the most romantic day of the year (Valentine’s Day).
They were married at St Augustine’s, Anne’s brother, Frank Shortis, conducting the ceremony.
He is the eldest of seven and an ordained minister, while Anne is the youngest of the seven Shortis siblings — the daughter of Tom and Catherine.
Greg and Frances O’Meara were Brian’s parents and he is the eldest of five.
Before the Kyabram couple were sent off to boarding school they attended St Augustine’s Primary School together.
Brian successfully completed his secondary education in 1956, and following his father Greg’s request, he joined the family butchery business.
Anne joined the office staff of Dawes and Vary in Allan St (now Kyabram Beauty Studio).
In typical fashion and in keeping with the history of their non-confrontational marriage they both ended up laughing off the suggestion that the car may have had something to do with Anne’s advances.
Later in the relationship, as a 21-year-old, Brian brought a sporting Austin Healey.
Further evidence of his commitment to his marriage came when he sold that car and bought a station wagon.
Both sets of parents thought that was a very good idea.
Just for the record, however, there is now a classic 1959 Austin Healey BT7 sitting in the couple's garage — Brian's pride and joy.
In an attempt to explain the amazing, almost unbelievable, fact the couple had never had a serious argument Brian offered these words of wisdom.
“I always think to myself ‘you don’t have to have the last word Brian’.
“We’ve never had a blow-up, though naturally we have occasional arguments.
“We have always managed to talk things through,” Brian said.
The couple have spent most of their lives in Kyabram, Anne growing up at Lancaster and Brian at Willowdene.
There is a lot more to their relationship than cars and work.
In 1955, Anne and Jillian Wakenshaw (Boyce) entered a St Augustine’s basketball team (the game didn’t become known as netball until 1970) into the Kyabram association and later a team in the newly formed midweek competition for married women.
Meanwhile, Brian played football with Girgarre and Kyabram for a number of years.
In 1958, St Augusitne’s lawn tennis courts were opened and the family enjoyed a long association with the club, Being honoured with life membership of the tennis club was a highlight for the couple.
The couple started their marriage living in Richards St and had four children.
Two of those tragically died, first-born Chris died 13 weeks after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. He was just 12 years old.
“Vaccinations hadn’t come on the scene then and he was perfectly healthy until he had the measles,” Anne said.
Twenty-three-year-old Jen died in a single-car accident. She was a podiatrist at Caulfield Medical Centre.
“I remember we had such support from the community during those tough times,” Anne said.
Nick and Tracey live in the beachside suburb of Terrigal in NSW and have three boys Ben, Declan and Tom, while Greg and wife Leeanne live at Warrandyte and have two children, Ella and Finn.
As a 32-year-old, Brian changed career and enrolled at Bendigo Teacher’s College.
Brian studied primary school teaching full-time, travelling to Bendigo each week for the three-year course — where he boarded with Maureen Caldow’s mother.
He taught for six years at St Augustine’s in the 1970s and in 1980 was appointed principal of St Mary’s in Echuca, where he spent 10 years.
In 1991 Brian took up the principal’s role at St Augustine’s primary and was there for a further seven years.
“It’s pleasing to see St Aug’s continues to flourish and is held in such high regard in the community,’’ Brian said.
Anne became assistant teacher at Fenaughty St kindergarten during the mid-1970s, as anyone who attended the pre-school and is now aged between 30 and 50 years old would probably know.
“Between us we had a lot to do with the education of children in Kyabram,” Anne said.
“It’s always a great joy when we catch up with our past students to talk about their careers, family and whatever is happening in their lives.”
Anne described her husband as positive and patient, and a very organised man who was big on routine.
“In retirement that routine has changed somewhat. Now it is an early morning walk together to buy the paper, followed by watering the garden and mowing the lawns,” she said.
“The ritual of the Saturday-morning car wash has been a constant from long ago — one of our then young neighbours once told me ‘Mr O is washing his car and its not even dirty’,” Anne said.
Living, laughing and loving together for 60 years has the couple considering themselves “blessed” — having supported each other through the good and tough times that six decades together is bound to throw up.
Contributor