Ella and Philip Dower
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50th wedding anniversary
IT was instant attraction on both sides when Ella Austin and Philip Dower met, 50 years ago. “As soon as I was introduced I knew I was going to marry him,” Ella says matter-of-factly. Fortunately, Philip thought the same about Ella, and within three weeks of meeting they were engaged.
Eight months later, on December 12, 1964, they were married at St Mary’s Anglican Church Kangaroo Flat by Ella’s eldest brother Alfred, who was not long ordained an Anglican minister.
“We honeymooned in Warrnambool. It rained the whole time. We were meant to stay 14 days and we came home in seven,” says Ella.
The couple was introduced by mutual friends at the Bendigo Showgrounds one Easter. Philip was competing there in bike racing events.
Ella worked at St Luke’s Toddlers Home at White Hills while Philip was employed at the Benevolent Home (now the Anne Caudle Centre).
“We loved dancing,” Ella says. “The old time, not the new - the barn dance, the foxtrot, waltzes. I loved the gypsy tap, where you s-l-i-d-e along the floor. It kills me now when I hear the music and can’t dance anymore. Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets - we loved all that music.
“When I was at St Luke’s we went on hay rides. The boys would play their guitars and someone played the squeezebox. We’d cook a sausage on the stick over the fire. There was no alcohol, but we had fun.”
Ella and Philip had three boys - Shane, Jason and Leigh - and are proud grandparents of four grandchildren, three girls and one boy. “He says he’s grandma’s favourite boy and I say ‘yes you are’. “We’ve had our ups and downs and our sad times, but you’ve got to work at marriage,” Ella says. She likes to do a bit of travelling around Australia while Philip trains and races two greyhounds - Lily Black, and the other one, as yet, unnamed.
“We had an absolutely beautiful day at the Kangaroo Flat Sports Club for our anniversary. There were 67 for lunch, all ages, and everyone enjoyed the meal. There was roast chicken, roast beef and two desserts.”