By Alesha Capone
Long-time Werribee residents Barry and Kathleen Thompson celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary last week.
The couple, who married at St Thomas Anglican Church in Synnot Street on April 23, 1960, went onto have three daughters, Debbie, Alison and Mandy; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Barry was born in Werribee during 1937, while Kathleen was born in Sunshine during 1938. Her parents moved to Werribee South about 18 months after she was born.
Kathleen’s family ran the Werribee South Post Office and Telephone Exchange for about eight years. She worked there with her sisters, then at a local pharmacy and the original Werribee Hospital.
Barry worked for the family business Thompson Brothers Chaff Mill & Produce, along with his father and uncles.
In their teenage years, Kathleen and Barry both attended the then-named Werribee Higher Elementary School together.
In 1955, Kath’s family moved from Werribee South into Werribee. This meant that Barry and Kath lived one street apart from each other, in Bolwell and Church streets.
During their many years in Werribee, Barry and Kath have been active in the local community, including in Scouts, Guides, the ambulance service, Lions Club and Jaycees, the Wyndham Lodge Ladies Auxiliary and Hoppers Crossing Uniting Church Opportunity Shop.
The couple said that Werribee has “grown dramatically” since they were young.
They said when they were young, you could ride a bike or walk to the main street of Werribee “and you would know everyone you saw”.
“It was a country suburb with a country atmosphere, not built up and hemmed in like it is today.
“When we married and lived on the Princes Highway (opposite the current police station) there were very few houses and Hoppers Crossing was all vacant land.
“There was hardly any crime – we always felt safe, we could leave our car unlocked and windows down and not worry.”
These days, one of Kath and Barry’s favourite past-times is to visit the South Corner Café, which used to be the local milk bar (Sheehan’s) when they were both growing up.
“Seeing the old milk bar turned into a café with great coffee and food has been a real highlight of these later years,” Barry said.
A photo which Barry took of the former milk bar when he was 15 has been blown up and printed on the inside wall of the café.
Kath and Barry said their advice for a long-lasting marriage was to be patient, respectful, committed and understanding.
Kath now resides at Mercy Place Aged Care facility due to ill health. Barry, who lives within walking distance, visits her almost every day.
