King Charles congratulates Esperance residents on 70 years of marriage
Platinum wedding couple celebrate everlasting love
Not many couples can say they’ve lived a love story that spans seven decades. But Bob and Joy Trounce are not like most couples.
In an era of soaring divorce rates and swipe-happy dating apps, the pair, aged 92 and 90 respectively, are proof that commitment is still possible if you put in the work.
They celebrated an astonishing 70 years of marriage on December 3, with a congratulatory card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla topping off the day.
The platinum anniversary party was held in Esperance’s private dining room, which proved the perfect place for a celebration.
Bob said it was wonderful to share the occasion with so many friends and family.
“It was lovely to come together and celebrate with everyone, many of whom we have known for years,” he said.
“Seventy years is a long time but we’ve done pretty good. The card from the King was very nice. We had one from the Queen for our 60th anniversary so we are getting quite a collection now.”
The couple met in 1953 in Wellington, New Zealand. They were both travelling to work on a train and Bob made a move by striking up a conversation - the rest is history.
After marrying in Christchurch, they eventually moved to the Gold Coast more than three decades ago and have been residents at Esperance for three years.
Today, their legacy includes three children, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Bob, a former meat exporter, said the secret to everlasting love was respect and hard work.
“Too many couples give up on a marriage these days because it’s easier,” he said.
“But you’ve got to work at it. You’ve got to respect each other’s rights and point of view, and you don’t go to bed with a grievance; you resolve things before you go to sleep.
“We are still going strong and we hope our story shows younger couples that it really is worth the effort.”
Reside Communities CEO Glen Brown said it was a privilege to see residents and staff come together to honour such a rare milestone.
“It was incredibly special to watch the Esperance community rally around Bob and Joy to celebrate 70 years of marriage,” he said.
“Moments like this are what community living is all about - friendships, shared memories and making sure our residents feel truly valued.”
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