6 days ago
Oldest sweethearts Delma and Frank Murray celebrate 80 years of marriage
It's a love affair spanning eight decades. The story of Delma Joyce Earsman and Francis Joseph Murray, who met at a mutual friend's birthday party in Newcastle in 1939.
On Monday, the pair celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary and were officially recognised as Australia's oldest living married couple by The Australian Book of Records.
Frank, aged 101, said there was "no secret" to their long and happy marriage.
"I don't know whether there's a secret to it at all, time just seems to go," he said.
"We had plenty of time together with holidays all over the place. You must get used to each other so that you don't worry about time."
Delma, aged 100, offered some different advice.
"It's a lot of tolerance," she said.
"You've got to persevere and listen to one another."
Delma says she remembers vividly meeting Frank at a Newcastle dance hall 86 years ago.
"He was called over to come and sit with the rest of us, as he was the new man on the block," she said.
The pair continued to get to know each other and 18 months later Frank "declared" Delma his girlfriend.
Born in the 1920s, both witnessed The Great Depression and war.
Delma can remember being on her balcony when more than 30 shells from a Japanese submarine rained down on Newcastle in June 1942.
Frank joined the army during the Second World War.
"We were down at Dapto doing our training. I used to get the train and get off at Waratah come and see Del have a couple of kisses on the lounge," he said.
"Then I'd take her down to the end of the lane, give her a kiss at the gate and get the train back to Dapto.
Frank was later sent overseas as part of the Sixth Australian Machine Gun Battalion stationed in Papua New Guinea.
He is the only surviving member.
He returned home in 1945 and married his sweetheart soon after.
The couple were still living at home up until last year when Delma became unwell and had to be transferred to the hospital.
"They said I was too sick to go home, so they put me here [an aged care home in Newcastle]," Delma said.
"But Frank said he wouldn't come, he didn't want to go to a home."
Frank lasted only a week at home without Delma before asking to join her at the aged care facility.
Before the move, Frank remained fiercely independent, driving his car until he was 100.
It has taken Frank some time to acclimatise to aged care, but he said picking up new hobbies had helped him settle in.
"I'm in the process of being a little gardener. I'm going to grow some beans or peas or something," he said.
"Del's in a wheelchair all the time, but I'm not.
"I've got a bad leg, but I can get around so if I can find something to do, it'll be good.
Staff and residents at the aged care facility celebrated on Monday to mark the couple's record milestone.
Delma said she found it hard to believe they were the oldest married couple.
"It's a bit hard for me to digest. I just can't believe that we would be the oldest married people," she said.
The pair were joined by their two children Sandra and Joy, as well as their niece and granddaughter Sarah to celebrate the momentous occasion.
Eighty years married and the pair are as smitten as ever.
