By Jen Gourley
I was carefully turning the yellowing pages of an old newspaper in the library the other day – an edition of the Central Telegraph from February, 1972. And there on one page was the image of a beautiful bride, captioned “Mrs Ronald Robinson, formerly Miss Carol Loader”. A wedding that happened 50 years ago! That meant that there could have been a golden wedding anniversary recently! It was time to track down Carol and Ron Robinson as this special milestone needed to be acknowledged.
With a little help, I was able to get hold of Carol for a chat. She and Ron were indeed celebrating 50 years of marriage and she was happy to take a little trip down memory lane with me.
The happy couple were married on January 22, 1972 at the Methodist Church in Biloela.
“It was a lovely day,” recalled Carol. “And everyone, I think, had a good time. It went off without any hitches, pretty much.”
I mentioned to Carol that one thing that stood out in the wedding notice in the paper was the intricate detail about both her wedding dress and her going away outfit.
“I made them both,” Carol said, quite humbly.
As someone who can only manage to sew buttons on to shirts, I was blown away by this admission.
So, yes, Carol made both her outfits, with some assistance from Biloela local Hazel Mann.
Fifty years later, Carol is still very nifty with a needle – sewing and quilting for family and wedding presents.
After the wedding and a motoring tour in southern Queensland, Carol and Ron settled down at ‘Torsdale’, a cattle property just out of Biloela. Ron was the head stockman at the time. Over the years, they moved a few times and ended up in Rockhampton because of the cattle slump, Carol said. Then Ron got a job at Humes Pipes in Rocky and worked there for 43 years. Carol and Ron are still living just north of Rockhampton.
They have two children and plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren to love.
I asked Carol what was the secret to staying together for 50 years?
“You read these (articles) and they say ‘we’ve never had an argument’,” Carol said. “I don’t believe that. I think it’s probably compromise, you know.
“We’ve had our fair share of blues, I can tell you,” she laughed. “But you’ve sort of got to get over it and move on.
“Marriage is a bit like the weather, isn’t it? You have good times and bad times.”
As well as compromise, having common interests is also important. A shared love of gardening has helped keep Ron and Carol’s marriage strong.
So, how did the Robinsons celebrate this major milestone?
The current pandemic threw up a few challenges for them, but they still managed to have an enjoyable time, spending a week in a unit at Yeppoon, with family coming to visit, and a gorgeous cake made by a dear friend.
Congratulations to Ron and Carol on this very special occasion. Fifty years together is indeed very special.
Here is part of the wedding write-up from the Central Telegraph, February 2, 1972:
“Wedding Bells”
Robinson-Loader
A motoring tour of Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, and Nambour, followed the recent wedding of Carol Loader and Ronald Robinson at the Methodist Church, Biloela, with Rev. Graham Johnson officiating.
Carol is the daughter of Mr S. Loader of Thangool and the late Mrs Jean Loader; and Ronald is the son of Mr and Mrs R. Titmarsh of Nambour.
Organist at the church was Tony Sorrensen, who played “A Time for Us” as Carol walked down the aisle, and as she walked from the church, he played “I’ll Walk Beside You”. Soloist was Mrs Kapernick, who sang “O, Perfect Love”.
Carol looked charming in her Empire line gown featuring a French embroidered ripple chiffon bodice with a rounded neckline, and a ripple chiffon skirt over satin, falling into a short train. The long full sleeves were gathered at the wrists onto embroidered cuffs.
Her three-tiered circular tulle veil was held by a floral Juliette cap, and she carried a beautiful trail bouquet of white carnations with three blue tipped white orchids as a centre piece…
Tony Sorrensen played the electric organ at the reception, and the bride, with her nine brothers and sisters, sang “The Loveliest Night of the Year”.
For her going away outfit, Carol chose a cream frock with orange and black print and black accessories.
- Tags: Biloela, cattle, sewing, Torsdale, Wedding anniversary
