PROMINENT Capalaba residents and former car dealership owners Margaret and Brian Oldfield are celebrating 50 years of marriage.
Daughter Maree Palmer said they met while working at the Commonwealth Bank at Carina on Brisbane's eastside.
They married on July 26, 1969, at Camp Hill.
"In the following years they welcomed three children - Maree, Craig and Brad," Ms Palmer said.
"Dad's new employment with GMAC then saw the family live in Townsville, Melbourne and the north coast of New South Wales.
"But Brisbane is where their families were and where their heart belonged.
"In 1991, the culmination of coming home and a life-long dream of having their own Holden dealership was realised when they opened Oldfield Holden on Redland Bay Road, Capalaba."
Ms Palmer said her parents owned and operated the dealership for 25 years before its sale to Bartons.
They both served on the Redlands Chamber of Commerce as president and secretary, and were given life memberships.
"Together they built a future that would provide for their family for many years to come," Ms Palmer said.
"Mum and Dad have always put family in the forefront.
"Dad worked every day for 60 years and achieved great success as a result of his work ethic and commitment. Mum worked every day building a loving family.
"There has never been a moment in my 48-year life that Mum has not been providing love and support.
"Both mum and dad became involved in every pursuit my brothers and I followed.
"Mum became a Brownie leader when there was none so I could join the Guiding movement. Dad became a Scout master when my brothers joined the Scouting movement.
"When my brothers played soccer, my parents ran the canteen every Saturday, loading the car early and staying all day until all the games were finished.
"When I started playing netball, mum became the team assistant, making sure everything was in order and the team uniforms were always ready each week.
"When my brothers changed their interest to basketball, dad became assistant coach and drove thousands of kilometres getting the team to games all over the state."
Ms Palmer said the couple was also hands-on in the lives of their seven grandchildren, and instrumental in the raising of their three eldest grandsons.
"Mum and dad make it a priority to be at their music recitals, football games, basketball games and Air Force Cadet events.
"They pick up their grandchildren from school, take them to their practices and performances, and open their home to them at any hour of the day or night.
"...We learned that love means respect and acceptance and supporting each other. And we have taught our children the same. Our family is one of the closest I know. We are always each other's first port of call and that's because of our mum and dad.
"Their marriage has endured much but they have always ensured that our family was safe, loved and cared for."
