At first a slightly reluctant debut partner, Phil Davies was swept into a whirlwind of fancy balls when he met his future wife Jan. He soon became well acquainted with public transport visiting the young Sydney nurse who’d captured his attention.
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It’s been a life of ups and downs for the pair, who celebrated their diamond anniversary on Monday, March 13.
How have they lasted 60 years?
“It’s been bloody hard, but she’s managed!” Phil joked.
“I keep on saying to Phil ‘How are you mate? Are you ok?’” Jan laughed.
Phil attributed their long marriage to their agreement to never go to bed angry.
“We’ve had our donnybrooks,” he admitted.
“Every couple does,” Jan added. “If you’re going to have all plain sailing, it’s going to be such an inane, colourless companionship,” she said.
Sixty years of partnership shine through for the pair who finish each other’s sentences, laugh over old memories and inside jokes and give the occasional teasing nudge. It’s a team that’s raised four children, 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Phil and Jan made the move to Moree as young parents, in an effort to give their son Mark – who had a heart murmur – a less frantic environment to grow up in. It was a challenge for Jan, who was a city girl through and through.
“We had next door to us the most marvellous, marvellous neighbour. I don’t think I’d have survived without Aunty Kit,” she said.
“She taught me how you cope in the summer with no fan and no air conditioning and people talk about recycling - she had it down pat.”
Joining Mark and older sister Mia was Caroline and Louise – one baby that turned out to be two.
“That shook the world a bit,” Jan said. She didn’t know she was carrying twins until the birth.
“I blame Jan. The bloke has got nothing to do with it,” Phil added helpfully.
The couple agreed they had been lucky to have the four, who made sure they had a special weekend. Prepared for a quiet meal with a few friends, more and more family and friends joined in.
“It just went on and on and we’re just sitting there feeling quite dazed like kids with a storybook - what happens next?” Jan said.
Jan and Phil are now enjoying a whole new world together as retirees. The pair love their role as grandparents with all the fun and none of the responsibility.
“I think we spend more time talking to each other. We’re travelling more, and we have a caravan, so off we go. There’s so much to see,” Jan said.
“We’re still trying to find that place called anywhere.”
Naomi Shumack
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
Born and bred in Inverell, I'm passionate about community journalism. I'm the youngest of five kids, am a book worm and have a ridiculous movie collection. I have a double degree in Communications and International Studies from the University of Wollongong. I write stories for the Inverell Times, Moree Champion and Goondiwindi Argus. You can contact me at naomi.shumack@fairfaxmedia.com.au or on 0438 606 351.
