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Halls Head couple’s love still strong after more than 60 years

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

TRUE love remains strong after more than six decades for Halls Head couple 85-year-old Morris and 83-year old Sheena Richmond.

The Mercy Place residents celebrate their 61st Valentine’s Day together today and readily admit their happy union has centred on always being true to each other.

After marrying in 1955, the couple went on to have three children: a boy and two girls.

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Their family brood now includes six grandchildren.

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The Richmonds moved into Mercy Place Mandurah a year ago, after immigrating to Perth from South Africa in 2008.

“We met when Sheena’s aunt asked me to take her to a dance as she needed a partner, and then we had an argument about who would pay for the tickets, which I duly lost,” laughs Mr Richmond.

“We were together for 18 months before getting engaged, and we married on December 15, 1955.

“We’ve had a wonderful life together and in my opinion there’s three things you need for a good marriage: love, respect and compatibility.”

Mercy Health Mandurah service manager Christina Venables says couples like Morris and Sheena epitomise what Valentine’s Day is all about: Having true commitment and respect for each other, as well as love.

“Morris and Sheena’s partnership is true testament to a long and happy marriage and they are certainly a couple who even after all these years love each other very much.”

Wollaston: A Man and his Mission will be staged at the church at 2pm.

The play is adapted from the Wollaston Diaries by well known historian and playwright Norm Flynn.

The roles of John and Mary Wollaston are played by Tony Martin and Sigari Luckwell.

Wollaston was the Colonial Chaplain for the Leschenault settlement and was not paid a salary until he and his sons had built their church, which still stands today and in which three services a week are held.

While based in Bunbury, Wollaston visited Mandurah from time to time to hold services in Thomas Peel’s chapel.

Tickets cost $25, concessions $20, from Christ’s Church Anglican Church bookshop (Monday-Friday, 9am-1.30pm).

Seventy-seven per cent will pen a card to their loved one this Valentine’s Day.