Ray and Marlene Birch reveal their secrets to seven decade marriage

Winston Churchill was prime minister of England when this Hamlyn Heights pair wed, yet their marriage has persisted, so what’s the secret?

Ray and Marlene Birch celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Many things have changed in the past 70 years.

But one thing that has remained the same is Hamlyn Heights couple Ray and Marlene Birch’s love and marriage.

When Mr and Mrs Birch, both now 91, wed on February 19, 1955, at St John’s church in North Geelong, Winston Churchill was still prime minister of England, the Vietnam War was yet to break out, and golfer Greg “the Shark” Norman was just nine days old.

Now, seven decades on and still going strong, the pair have revealed their secret to a long and happy marriage.

“Do everything together,” Mr Birch said.

Mr Birch said doing everything together was the key to a happy marriage. Picture: Brad Fleet.

The pair still live in their Hamlyn Heights home, where they have been for 25 years.

Mrs Birch said a shared passion for dancing had helped strengthen their relationship.

“We love dancing,” she said.

“We’d go to every dance we could lay our hands on.”

It’s a passion that also helped spark their 70-year-long marriage.

“It’s how we met,” Mr Birch said.

“We went to a dance one night, me and a few mates, and I met her.

“I had a few dances with her and that was the end. I took her home and that was it.”

The pair bonded over their shared love of dancing. Picture: Brad Fleet

The pair celebrated the platinum anniversary milestone alongside family, including their three children Garry, Karen and Rob, at the Great Western Hotel on Wednesday evening.

Garry Birch said his parents were hard working.

“Dad sort of retired at 65, but then all of a sudden he was working three or four days a week until he was 70,” he said.

“They both worked hard, dad always had a couple of jobs, mum was a cleaner.”

Amazingly, Ray played cricket for North Geelong until he was in his 60s, following a long career at the club as both a footballer and a cricketer, a legacy that remains today, with one of his 11 great-grandchildren still playing.

Originally published as Ray and Marlene Birch reveal their secrets to seven decade marriage