Family and friends gathered at the Cummins Hotel on January 28 to celebrate Roy and Pat Starke’s 70-year wedding anniversary.
The platinum anniversary couple arrived by the local tri-shaw service operated by Dianne Modra and were greeted by many well-wishers – including one bridesmaid, Yvonne Starke.
Assisting their parents were daughters Keryn Wilkins of Galwer, Leanne Jericho from Cummins, Vicki Jericho of Noosa and Terri Stringer from Melbourne.
Roy and Pat were married on January 30, 1954 at the Methodist Church in Port Lincoln.
On the day, proceedings were delayed a short while to allow the minister to be located and redirected from painting the roof of his house to perform the marriage service.
Once settled in a caravan at their farming property, Warrow Road, Cummins, Pat and Roy set about building their remarkable 70-year marriage.
They first built a modest fibro cottage and started their family of five children.
This family has now grown to include 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren – with the 19th due shortly.
Many had travelled to share this outstanding milestone.
Roy and Pat built their farming business west of Cummins over nearly five decades of intensive work raising pigs, sheep and cattle, plus cropping.
During their early farming career, they ventured into dairy cattle and poultry, selling milk, cream, eggs and dressed chickens, turkeys and geese.
They purchased adjoining acres and developed that into a productive and reliable family farm.
Pat was always a keen gardener and built beautiful gardens for all their homes, including extensive fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.
In 1966 they extended their small house and built a brick veneer home for the growing family, and finally built their retirement home in Cummins in 1985.
Pat and Roy also built many friendships along the way with their commitment to the Lutheran Church in Cummins and the local community.
They have both given their time and assistance by serving on committees of the Rambler Football and Netball Club, Recreation Centre Committee, Cummins Area School parent organisations, Red Cross, Cummins Hospital Auxiliary and Meals on Wheels.
Roy instigated the permanent watering of Cummins Oval and spent many years building up and tending to that system.
Pat spent considerable time planning and organising the building of the original netball toilet and change room facility.
Pat also drove to Adelaide to choose and purchase the fabric for the Cummins Area School summer uniform which is still used today, having only one update in style.
Once retired, Pat and Roy continued to build many friendships through their extensive travels around Australia over a more than 30-year period.
On their anniversary day, January 30, Roy and Pat were greeted by many more local friends from the community at an open afternoon tea at the Cummins Memorial Hospital, where they both now reside.
Messages of congratulations were also received from state and federal Politicians, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General David Hurley, and His Majesty King Charles and Queen Camilla.
When asked about their amazing achievement, Roy and Pat insisted they were still in love.
Their never-ending enduring love has lasted a lifetime of building that love – doing the things which were important and meaningful for each of them.
Along the way they have enjoyed a successful happy life filled with friends and family who were present to celebrate and congratulate Roy and Pat on this outstanding 70-year platinum anniversary.
