By PEACE IJIYERA
JOHN and Lynette Van Vondel celebrated 60 years of marriage on April 9.
Their love story began in the small rural town of Manangatang, north-west Victoria.
Mr Van Vondel and his family migrated to the Mallee region from the Netherlands in 1961, while Ms Van Vondel’s family had been living in the area for generations.
Of all places to meet, the pair met at a rifle range, an activity that was considered “social” and popular back then. It wasn’t just bullets that flew that day – sparks did too. After their initial meeting, their connection “blossomed” when they both joined a “youth group that was called young farmers.”
They were engaged on May 21, 1965 and married April 9, 1966. Mr Van Vondel was 21 years-of-age and Ms Van Vondel 18.
In true small country town fashion, where “you know everybody”, Mr and Ms Van Vondel chose to extend the wedding reception invitation to everyone in town. At the time, Manangatang had a population of around 400 people. Over the years that number has declined, with the population now about 270. About 150 people in the town showed up to the reception, where they danced the night away.
The month of April was busy for the Van Vondel’s. They got married, honeymooned in Adelaide for two weeks and moved to the Traralgon South/Callignee area by the end of the month.
“My parents were looking to buy some land, and in the Mallee that was not easily possible because you had to buy far too big an acreage to make a living. So, they brought some land at Callignee, Traralgon South, Callignee district. We were to be joining them there as a partnership,” Mr Van Vondel said.
The couple lived in the area for 30 years and moved to Traralgon West in 1996, where they still live today. Their love created four daughters, while there is also nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Their four daughters all still live locally. Being outnumbered in his own house, Mr Van Vondel quickly learnt that girls run the world.
“I always had to put up a good argument because I had five girls to argue against me,” he joked.
“Sometimes I won, I didn’t win most of the time.”
During their time living in the Traralgon South/Callignee area, the Van Vondel’s did a lot of volunteer work. They were “heavily involved with the relocation of the Traralgon South township because of the Loy Yang development,” Mr Van Vondel recalled. The redevelopment saw the relocation of the Traralgon South hall, tennis courts, church, teachers residents and school.
Ms Van Vondel was particularly involved in seeing the retention of the Traralgon South Primary School which the department was threatening to close in the 1970’s due to low numbers.
“They wanted to close the Traralgon South Primary School and bus all the children into Traralgon. I was a firm believer of small schools, rural schools,” she said.
Both Mr and Ms Van Vondel have been recognised for their service to the Traralgon South CFA. Though currently not active members, Mr Van Vondel has been serving for 60 years, and Ms Van Vondel, 45.
The pair put their long lasting relationship down to “love, friendship and tolerance.”
Mr Van Vondel said his favourite thing about his wife is “that she married me when I asked her.” For Ms Van Vondel, she said she has “so many” favourite things about her husband.
“He is a rock, as the children call him. He’s always there and being supportive.
“I fell in love with this young guy out of nowhere.”
Another key to marriage is, “having an interest in similar things,” said Ms Van Vondel. They are still putting their advice into action, having both recently joined a Traralgon history group.
The Van Vondel’s received many a flower and messages from friends, family, local and international dignitaries to mark their anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, they celebrated with loved ones on April 11.
Now aged 80 and 78, they are both looking forward to staying “as healthy” as they can “for as long as possible.”
Reflecting over the years, Ms Van Vondel said it has been a “good life.”
