70 years of marriage and West Lakes couple still going strong

After meeting the old-fashioned way – at a dance at the local hotel – this West Lakes couple’s love has stood the test of time. Read their incredible story.

Allan and Elsie Teitzel on their wedding day in 1951. Pic: Supplied

West Lakes couple Allan and Elsie Teitzel have managed a feat very few can brag about – reaching a platinum anniversary of 70 years of marriage.

Allan, 92, and Elsie, 90, were married on May 30, 1951 in Broken Hill.

Both were born and raised in the bush, with both coming off Queensland cattle stations.

Their paths crossed when they were living and working in Cunnamulla, Queensland, Elsie at the local hotel and Allan in a government role.

Allan swept Elsie off her feet after asking her to cut a rug at a local dance.

“I used to love dancing, and he came over and asked me for a dance and that’s how we met,” Elsie said.

It didn’t take long for the couple to fall in love and they were engaged six months after meeting.

After getting married, they went home to Allan’s family property in Bowen, Queensland, to work on the farm.

They later ended up both working for the Kidman Cattle Company at Innamincka in South Australia’s Far North, with Allan working as a bookkeeper and Elsie as a cook.

But after their three children were born – Geoff, Barry and Jennifer – they decided a move to the big smoke was needed.

“When the kids got to school age, we moved to Adelaide in 1960,” Elsie said.

They went into their own business on the move to Adelaide – a Serv-Well grocery store at Parkholme, which they ran for more than a decade.

The couple later ran a deli at Elizabeth for five years.

While running the businesses in Adelaide, the couple always lived out west, at Richmond, Brooklyn Park and Fulham Gardens.

Elsie and Allan Teitzel, West Lakes, are celebrating 70 years of marriage on May 30. Picture: Paula Thompson

In the 1980s they moved interstate to achieve one of Allan’s lifelong dreams.

“I always wanted to run a motel, it was on my bucket list,” he said.

They ran a motel at Taree, NSW, for close to five years.

On their arrival back in SA in 1985, the couple retired to West Lakes, where they have lived ever since.

But their love of the bush has remained strong, with regular trips across the border, particularly to their favourite spot of Forster-Tuncurry in NSW.

“We’ve been there 21 times and just love it,” Allan said.

The couple, who share seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren, will mark their anniversary on May 30 with a limousine ride to the Watershed Cafe at Mawson Lakes for a family celebration.

Allan says there is a simple secret to their long and happy life.

“I’ve always said the secret to life is hard work, exercise, drinking socially, no drugs, regular check-ups and having patience with each other,” he said.