Bowen couple Dulcie and Eric Neale celebrate major milestone with party in Hansen Park

Self-described ‘bushies at heart,’ the Neales moved from Townsville to Bowen in 1980, and consider themselves ‘almost locals now’ after 40 years in town.

He was a telegraphist, she was a telephonist. She caught his eye at the Charleville Post Office Exchange in the early 1950s and the rest, as they say, is history.

Dulcie Elaine Neale and Eric Junior Drayton Neale have been by each other’s side ever since, marrying in 1953, settling in Bowen in 1980, and this week celebrating a major milestone together.

The couple’s six children, 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren came from all over Australia to join the couple in blowing out the candles on their 90th birthday cakes at a gathering at Bowen’s Hansen Park on Wednesday.

The celebration had been in the planning since late last year.

Their eldest daughter Susan Rheinberger said Dulcie, born May 18 1931, and Eric, on July 12 the same year, were “a big inspiration” for the rest of the family, right down to the three newborn great grandchildren they had not yet met until this week.

“We’re all very different people but we’ve all followed their model, and their ways of living,” Ms Rheinberger said.

“It’s been a lovely foundation, and we feel very lucky because so many young folks don‘t have that,” she said.

‘Bushies at heart’

The Neales spent the early years of their marriage in Brisbane and parts of north and western Queensland, travelling wherever the work and schooling opportunities best suited their growing family at the time.

A self-described “bushie at heart”, Eric fell in love with Bowen while undertaking relief work there in 1975, and stayed true to his pledge that if a permanent position ever opened up, he would take it.

The couple moved from Townsville to Bowen in 1980, when Eric got the job of postmaster, and quickly became involved in the community including spending two decades on the Meals on Wheels roster, and volunteering at Muroona Gardens.

Dulcie was an active member of the Anglican Mothers Union, while Eric was, and still is, a Freemason.

They shared a passion for creative pursuits such as cardmaking and piano playing, and in retirement, enjoyed exploring Australia together, clocking up more than 100,000km in their caravan, and later taking the grandkids out on sailing trips to Stone Island.

These days, they may be a little less active, but they maintain a good balance of healthy eating, plenty of sleep, and a few treats, like their nightly glass of sherry.

With their 70th wedding anniversary coming up next year, Eric said the secret to staying together so long was simple: “We’re still in love.”

“And we’ve got a wonderful, beautiful family who are a great source of comfort,” he said.

His message to Dulcie was equally short and sweet: “Thanks for being here.”