Wedding date: June 17, 1944
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When Alma Jinks was performing her duties as an usher at the Princess Theatre in Mitchell Street, the war was on, wages were poor and men were in uniform.
Tom Watt was introduced to Alma by a girlfriend, and for the next two years they got to know each, went to dances and picnics, and enjoyed the simple things of life.
When the couple turned 21, they decided to get married. The war was on and Tom’s Airforce unit was about to be shipped out to parts unknown.
“I remember the best man rode his bike from Geelong to Bendigo for the wedding, and Tom peering anxiously through the windows of St Paul’s because he was running so late.”
It was a small family wedding, with sister Lorna as bridesmaid and Jack McCall as the best man.
Alma was earning one pound 15 shillings a week, which wasn’t a lot of money, so many of her wedding items were in the something borrowed, something blue and something old categories.
“I wore my cousin’s wedding dress and it was a perfect fit - the train was so pretty too. We all did our own hair and flowers in those days.”
“Tom went to Leech’s Jewellers for the ring, and he had a choice of two only.
“We were married three weeks and then Tom was sent to Darwin. We were allowed to write, but he was away for 15 months before we saw each other again.”
Tom started at the Ordnance Factory after the war, and the industrious couple built a mixed business in Caledonia Street.
Alma then opened a dress shop in Killians Walk, only to see Alma Val burn to the ground in the fire of 1987.
Today Tom keeps his hand in, training harness-horses, while Alma counts the grand kids. There are four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, and she never misses sending a card and birthday present.
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