IN a world where marriages can last just 77 days, to have been married for 77 years is extraordinary.
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Catalina couple Arnold and Betty Rodel recently celebrated 77 years of marriage and they are already planning their 78th anniversary at the end of the year.
Their marriage has not lost any of its sparkle, either.
“I think it has gotten better,” Mrs Rodel said.
The years have forged rather than wearied their relationship.
“We are great mates together,” Mr Rodel said.
“We know each other really well.”
The keys to the longevity of their marriage are as simple as they are valuable.
“Good luck, and that we do everything together – golf, bowls, everything,” Mr Rodel said.
Mr Rodel hasn’t really thought about why so many marriages do not last, but believes people just give up too easily.
“Yes, they do I think,” he said.
Mr Rodel was born in Watford, England, in 1917 and Mrs Rodel in Cardiff, Wales, in 1918.
They were married at a registry office in front of 50 guests in 1937.
It gave Mr Rodel a chance to have a family.
“I had no mother and father,” he said.
Their only child, Mary, was born soon after, but World War II followed and Mr Rodel was called up to the army.
“I was very worried, and it was very hard with a young baby,” Mrs Rodel said.
As well as the constant anxiety about her husband, Mrs Rodel and Mary had to take shelter from German bombing raids on England, and spent many nights sleeping under staircases.
Mr Rodel served as an artillery gunner with the famous British 8th Army in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
He was wounded in the arm by German shellfire and spent six months in hospital.
The Rodels moved to Australia in 1952.
“I met many Australians during the war and they told me how good it was, and I listened,” Mr Rodel said.
It was a big move for both of them, especially Mrs Rodel.
“I thought it was good, as long as we were together,” she said.
They originally settled in Melbourne and did much travelling over the years.
“We went to most countries of the world,” Mr Rodel said.
After 40 years in Melbourne, they moved to Batemans Bay, living first at Cooinda retirement village, and then moving to The Glen in Catalina six months ago.
“They put on a big do for us at Cooinda for our 70th anniversary, and we got congratulatory telegrams from the Queen, John Howard and the Governor-General,” Mr Rodel said.
Mary, now aged 76, lives at Banksia Village at Broulee. The Rodels also have two grandchildren and four great-grand-children.