After living on the Apple Isle (Michael’s home state) for about 10 years, the pair moved to Gippsland before making Bendigo their final destination, where they practised as GPs on McIvor Road. 

“We met over a cadaver in the dissecting room at Melbourne University,” Michael announces. “We were both medical students. It wasn’t an instant attraction, but for years we were close friends. I didn’t think she needed anyone to love her and then I found one day she did. 

“I said ‘let’s get married and have six children and Elizabeth said yes.’ So I told my mother and she said ‘You’ll have to have an engagement ring - I’ll find you one of mine.’ 

“Of course we didn’t have six children, we had seven,” Michael says with a twinkle in his eye, “because the last two were twins”. Their large family has produced 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Michael made a white satin onesie for their wedding anniversary celebration. “I’ve made all her onesies. She’s got 27 of them,” he says. He also made the white jacket he’s wearing in our photo. Elizabeth, who grew up in East Camberwell, wears his anniversary gift of a diamond necklace. 

After winning a scholarship to MLC, Elizabeth won another scholarship to study Medicine and live in Janet Clarke Hall at Melbourne University, against her father’s wishes. “He thought I should be a typist.” 

And she was for a while. “I had a holiday job typing medical records in a hospital. I went for the interview, said I could type, got the job and went home and learnt to type.”

They share a love of music, still regularly playing at Victoria Heights Nursing Home and U3A - and cryptic crosswords. 

“We were early members of the Bendigo U3A, we’re still active members of the Bendigo Art Gallery. We both love reading and are members of a book club,” Elizabeth says. 

Michael sums up the success of their partnership. “When you marry, you promise to love, honour and cherish,” he says “and then you love, and you honour, and you cherish.”