“It’s about being honest about everything with each other.”
The couple married on April 30 1942 at St Andrew’s Church, Wellington. Their original wedding day was supposed to be the day before, but because of World War II duties their pastor said that “he couldn’t marry us and it would have to be tomorrow”.
Mrs Robinson arranged special passes for her parents who travelled up from Dunedin for the big day. Staying an extra night in the capital was no problem.
The couple married and were on the “overnight train back to Auckland” to honeymoon in Rotorua.
Mrs Robinson moved to Auckland from Dunedin to act as a support person for her brother who was leaving to go to the Navy.
“I think that my mother wanted me to be in Auckland more for her than for my brother,” says Mrs Robinson.
It was a short engagement – they met around October 1941 and married six months later.
“I nabbed her,” says a quiet Mr Robinson.
The happy couple did not go over the top for their wedding anniversary because Mr Robinson celebrated his 95th birthday a few weeks before.
Accompanied by their son David, 59, the family sits at their ‘regular’ café, Mon Bichon in Farm Cove, a weekly catch-up session.
The family told the Times of trips together on their launch, going away for four to five weeks at a time, travelling to Waiheke, Great Barrier Island and around the Bay of Islands.
David and his older brother Ken, 63, “would take the dinghy [from the launch] ashore” so their parents couldn’t find them.
David speaks of his parents always being so happy. “I think it’s what Mum said before – ‘honesty’ – I think people today have forgotten what that means.”
As they reminisce of holidays and mischief, Mrs Robinson reiterates her principals to a good marriage: “Just share everything, be understanding and tolerant. Because for a good marriage the wife puts in 60 per cent and the man 40 per cent,” she laughs. “And the dopey husband agrees with it,” says Mr Robinson.
The couple now live at the Pakuranga Park Village retirement home after moving from Warkworth 12 years ago.
