To the delight of family and friends, John Rogers and Mary (nee Roebuck) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on August 15.
They first met in 1948 in a technical college physics class at what is now Wolverhampton University in England.
After Mary finished Teacher’s College they married at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Wolverhampton.
They lived in Wolverhampton for seven years, having three children over that time – Anthony (dec), Philippa and Anne-Marie. John’s work with the Electricity Board then meant a move to Newark-on-Trent. Another daughter, Sarah, was born, followed by the adoption of a much-awaited son, Paul.
With their four children, Mary and John made the decision to migrate to WA and were one of the first families to make the migration journey by plane.
The trip was eventful, leaving from a snow-bound England, with a stopover in Singapore due to problems with the plane, finally arriving in the midst of a heat wave in Perth in February 1969.
Once in WA, John’s work took the family to Collie and then Bunbury, working at the local power stations whilst Mary returned to teaching.
The family was extended with the birth of Rebecca in Collie and Kerina in Bunbury.
Mary became Deputy Principal at Carey Park in 1975 but, when John became Station Engineer at South Fremantle Power Station, the family moved to the metropolitan area, with Mary becoming Deputy Principal at Safety Bay Primary School.
She continued her studies and eventually became a lecturer at Edith Cowan University. Following John’s retirement in 1987, the family moved to Kallaroo.
Retirement has been busy for them with John enjoying many games of golf – and at the age of 85 he was, not for the first time, able to score a hole in one.
His woodworking skills have brought much pleasure to his children, grandchildren and children visiting Cockman and Buckingham Houses.
Mary has spent years in family history research, not only doing her own but also as President of the WA Genealogical Society and now volunteering to help others at the cities of Wanneroo and Joondalup.
She has served on the Parish Councils of St Brigid’s in Collie, Our Lady of the Mission in Craigie and at St Simon Peter Parish in Ocean Reef.
From meeting at night schoo,l their family now comprises not only the six surviving children and their partners, but also a total of 18 grandchildren and three great-grandsons.