ABOUT 52 years ago John and Salvina Mulholland enjoyed their first date swimming and fishing in the bay off Victoria Point.
Still in the Redlands, the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday with a quiet lunch at Sirromet.
Mr and Mrs Mulholland were both 18 years old and working at the Belle Vue Hotel when they met.
He was an apprentice chef and she was a housemaid and waitress.
Mr Mulholland thought she was a guest and offered to help her carrying a sewing machine and suitcase.
Mrs Mulholland had moved from Sydney, while he had grown up in nearby Toowong.
The couple married on October 15, 1966 at the Toowong Baptist Church.
After working as a chef for 13 years, Mr Mulholland joined the army, serving in Rhodesia and Malaysia and spending time based at cities around Australia.
During his 21 years of service, the couple built their house in Redland Bay.
Mrs Mulholland worked in aged care as a carer and caterer and was joined by her husband in the same industry after his retirement from the army in 1993.
The Mulholland’s have five children – David, Kristen, Jamie, Shane and Kristopher – and 12 grandchildren aged from six to 23 years old.
