Dawn and Geoff Pickens with Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts.
Camera IconDawn and Geoff Pickens with Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Quinns Rocks couple celebrates 60th wedding anniversary

Lucy JarvisNorth Coast Times

TENNIS led to a ‘love-all’ result for a Quinns Rocks couple who celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.

Geoff (82) and Dawn (79) Pickens met in 1956 while playing tennis at the Rochester Tennis Club, Victoria and married at Rochester Methodist Church on January 4, 1958.

“Sport was always going to be a part of their lives whether it be tennis, badminton or golf,” son-in-law John Whittingham said.

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“Despite both families having a long history in farming, Geoff had grown weary of the alternating droughts and floods frequently occurring in the Echuca area and in 1975 bravely moved his young family of four across the Nullarbor settling in Mt Barker.

“Two years later, and following a labour of love, they were to open the doors to the ‘Valley Views’ motel, Mt Barker, which they owned and ran until selling in 1989.”

Mrs Pickens won the small business ‘Tidy Towns’ garden award six times while in Mt Barker and her passion for gardening has continued since they moved to Quinns Rocks seven years ago.

Mr Whittingham said the couple would help others whenever they could and were actively involved in their local church.

They have four children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Celebrating at Joondalup Resort recently, Mrs Pickens told Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts that their secret to a successful marriage was “living a life of faith in God”.

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