The bride wore white Chantilly lace over tulle and taffeta teamed with a three-tiered veil and Chantilly lace Juliet cap.

The reception was held at the Echuca Masonic Hall and a few days’ honeymoon followed, driving through Shepparton and up to Albury.

Dorothy and Bert had met some years earlier as members of the Echuca Salvation Army Youth group. A few years passed, and Dorothy went up to Kerang to help the Salvation Army before eventually returning home to care for her father.  Bert called in on her one day at the family home. Previously both had had partners but they had split up and were now free. They started going out together.

Dorothy was born in Echuca, the youngest of nine, while Bendigo-born Bert was the son of a miner and one of six. Dorothy’s dad worked on the Water Trust and also fought on the Somme battlefields in World War I.

 The newly marrieds moved to Pyramid Hill from Echuca for a few years, where all three children – Robyn, Karen and Brendan – were born. Dorothy stayed at home caring for them while Bert worked as a carpenter and also played football at weekends in the Pyramid Hill first eighteen.

They moved to Bendigo in the early 60s. Bert drove trucks, later becoming the first V/Line contract driver to take people from Bendigo to Geelong, through Houldens buses. 

Dorothy went to Mother’s Club meetings and occasionally helped with lunches at the school. Holidays were spent either visiting family members or staying home.

“We couldn’t afford to travel, we were saving for our own home,” Dorothy says. “I can’t say we haven’t argued,” she adds with a chuckle. “We’ve had our ups and downs. But we’ve helped each other and been there for each other.” Over the years they spent time modernising their home and trying to keep the garden going, especially Dorothy’s roses. Thirteen grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and visits to Brendan in Gippsland, Karen in Queensland and Robyn in Geelong, have kept them busy.