HORSHAM couple Bob and Tess Hayes will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair were married at the old Ss Michael and John's Church in Horsham on May 21, 1960.
Mr Hayes said he met Tess at a dance at the Dimboola Regatta about three years before the wedding.
"I think the chemistry was right, although we had nothing in common at that stage," he said.
Mrs Hayes said she was unsure what caused the instant connection.
"I don't know, we just seem to be compatible," she said.
"You just know these things. We get along very well and that was it I guess. We felt we knew where we were going and what we were doing."
Mrs Hayes said Bob's honesty was something that attracted her to him.
"He's a very upright honest person and that is very important in a relationship," she said.
"He's most trustworthy, the type of person I like. I have trusted him with my life and I've never regretted it."
Mr Hayes said the keys to a successful marriage were honesty, comfortability and mutual respect.
"It's difficult to say but you become very comfortable with someone and that's what you have to be, I think," he said.
"We've both been honest and frank all of our lives. You've got to share things and talk them out.
"We just seem to get along fine and we have for most of our lives. I can't say it has been uneventful but we've had a great life so far."
Mr and Mrs Hayes have four children, Jan, Kerri, Cate and Peter and seven grandchildren.
They will celebrate their wedding anniversary with a dinner at The Capital in Horsham tomorrow night.
Mr Hayes said he and his wife enjoyed travelling together and had visited every capital city in Australia.
"We went to Darwin last year because that was the last one we hadn't seen and we came back on The Ghan," he said. "We also went to England seven or eight years ago and visited Ireland, Scotland and Wales."
Mr Hayes said they also went on regular golfing trips with friends, although Tess did not play. She said golf had never interested her.
"Definitely not, he has to tolerate what I'm interested in though - sometimes I wonder if I die on a Saturday what will happen," she said.
More anniversaries - see today's Mail-Times.