A Thornlands couple's meet-cute at a supermarket has led to 70 years of adventures, holding on to love through hardship and tragedy.
Jack Carter grew up in Carlton, Sydney, and met 17-year-old Ivy Swift at a Kogarah fruit shop where she worked.
Mr Carter, then 22, was a trolley bus conductor who would see his future wife daily, as the fruit shop was the last stop before the bus turned around to finish it's route.
Daughter Lynette Hooper said it was nothing short of love at first sight.
"Jack would smile back at her from the rear platform of the bus. Ivy smiled back and decided he was the man she would marry," she said.
"It took Jack some time to work up the courage to ask her out... he asked his friend who worked in the fish shop opposite the fruit shop, to hand Ivy a note asking her to the movies.
"Ivy said yes and that was the beginning of a true love story."
The Carters were married in Kogarah's St George Church on December 1, 1951.
Mrs Carter left the fruit shop after she was married and the couple had four children, a daughter and three sons.
Mr Carter worked at the Post Masters General Department as a linesman for 28 years while his wife worked small jobs to help pay the bills between raising the children.
Ms Hooper said although her family did not grow up with much, they had everything they needed.
"Growing up with my parents was an adventure and we, as young children, were included in everything with them," she said.
"Mum taught us how to cook and sew, Dad taught us how to fish, fix broken cars, change tyres, and much more."
Tragedy struck in 1968 when their third born son suffered brain injuries in a car accident en route to a football game.
The Carter's made the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support. His kidneys saved the lives of two young boys.
Mr Carter honoured his son every Saturday for three years, by helping patients in a Kidney Support Group travel to dialysis appointments.
A revhead and champion speed car driver from the mid 50s to early 60s, Mr Carter raced at Bathurst. The couple still love watching the races on TV.
He was also a keen fisherman, and his wife a talented dog trainer.
Mrs Carter loved to cook and garden and was known to take home a few prizes in local gardening competitions.
The couple have travelled through Australia, overseas to Asia, America and New Zealand where their second son now lives.
In 1975 Mrs Carter was paralysed after suffering a stroke following surgery for a brain aneurysm. She had to learn to walk and talk again.
In the late 70s the couple opened a lawn mower shop and sold the business in 2008.
After moving to Thornlands in 1990, Mr Carter drove a bus for a Victoria Point retirement village for eight years and later drove the bus for children at Redland Special School. Mrs Carter would assist on the bus as a carer.
The couple have seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.
Their daughter said the secret to their marriage was picking the right partner.
"Love for one another, making compromises, overlooking each other's faults, forgiveness, mutual respect, shared dreams, mercy and patience are all the ingredients for their milestone marriage," Ms Hooper said.
"The thing we all admire about our parents is the love they have for each other and the love they have for us."
Emily Lowe
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
