Give and take for true love

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

By BRIONY SOWDEN, AUT journalism student

• Howick and Pakuranga Times

CELEBRATING: Norm and Dolly Robertson. Times photo Wayne Martin.

Mr and Mrs Robertson celebrated a milestone last week, after “65 years of happy marriage”.They have lived around Howick and Bucklands Beach since the end of the war in 1945, and have moved house 18 times.After a long life together they are now enjoying time with their family of two daughters, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.“They all live in the area too and they are all lovely,” says Mrs Robertson. “We love them all.” In all their time together, Mr Robertson has only removed his wedding ring once. “I had to get my wedding ring cut off my finger once because it got too tight,” he says. “That’s the only time it has ever been off my hand.”Mrs Robertson never takes her engagement ring off too because it was a gift from her husband when he returned from World War II. “He bought the ring in Cairo. He was very romantic in those days.”While Mr Robertson was away at war, they kept in contact through letters, and they both fondly remember the day Mr Robertson left for active service.“We all came together for a farewell parade in Auckland city,” he says. “We marched from the railway station along Grafton Bridge, along Karangahape Road and down Queen Street. “And Dolly followed the whole way.”“I was just waving goodbye,” says Mrs Robertson.Both believe the key to a good marriage is give and take. “To be honest, I do all the giving and she does all the taking,” quips Mr Robertson.They laugh and agree they’re looking forward to the future years they will spend together.