Carterton District Mayor Greg Lang delivers a cake to George and Dorothy Addley to honour their 70th wedding anniversary. PHOTO/JOHN LAZO-RON
Carterton couple honoured for their joint service
John Lazo-Ron
They say that opposites attract.
But for Carterton couple George and Dorothy Addley, that is far from the truth.
The couple have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary and were honoured for their lifelong marriage with Carterton mayor Greg Lang delivering a cake to their doorstep.
It’s definitely no small achievement from the couple, who first met at the Wellington City Light Horse club, in 1949.
They were married two years later.
Since then, the couple have teamed up to help with several organisations in which they shared the same interests, which they said has been the key to their successful marriage.
“I think being like-minded where we join in things together has been what strengthened our marriage,” Dorothy said.
“We’ve done things together, at home and also out on the field and I believe that’s what kept us together the way we have been,” George said.
The organisations they have been involved in were the Scouts and Cubs in Porirua, which they started; the Elsdon Softball Club [also in Porirua], where George coached the younger teams, while Dorothy did the administration work; and also, St John where they were now life members.
The couple started with St John in Porirua where George would train “adults” to get their first-aid certificates, while Dorothy trained the cadets. They have continued with their service to St John since they arrived in Carterton in 2002.
While they no longer trained first aid, they were still ‘caring callers’ where they frequently call people to check up on them and remind them to take their medication.
The couple’s involvement in St John has not gone under the radar as both were acknowledged for their service and received Queen’s Service Medals for their 30-plus years in the organisation.
“It was a great honour to receive that medal for our service to St John”, George said.
Dorothy said, “Doing it together made it even more special and we are still happily doing it together.”
Although they have managed to stay together for 70 years, they both joked it hasn’t always been a joyful ride.
“These people that say you’ve never had an argument, I think they’re telling lies because you do have arguments,” Dorothy said.
“It would be a very boring marriage if you’ve never had an argument.
“As long as you go to bed and it’s all over, that’s the thing.”
George said, “Yeah, we kiss and make up, and then we start all over again the next day, and then we kiss and make up that night too.
“You can still have an argument and have a successful marriage.”
