Box Hill couple Refalos still in love after 70 years of marriage

IT’S been grand 70th wedding anniversary celebrations for Charlie and Jane Refalo, whose extended family continue to live around them in The Hills.

Charlie and Jane Refalo with their children, from left, Joyce Bugeja, Joe Refalo, Sonia Attard, Elizabeth Gatt, Kitty Cassar, Frances Chircop and Mary Sultana.

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IT’S been grand 70th wedding anniversary celebrations for Charlie and Jane Refalo, whose extended family continue to live around them in The Hills.

Bouts of ill health have interrupted the celebrations but the couple are now at home in Box Hill, which is undergoing a massive transformation.

Charlie, who is 92, and Jane, 88, were married on April 28, 1946, in Gozo, Malta and soon after ran a grocery store but had to deal with the tragedy of losing their eldest daughter, Mary Jane, aged nine months.

They emigrated to Australia on December 26, 1949, with Mrs Refalo expecting her second child.

Charlie and Jane Refalo are still very much in love.

“Our fondest memories of them will always be how hard they worked together and always made sure that we had food on the table, dressed us well and a good enough education to get us where we want,” daughter Elizabeth Gatt said.

“We were always happy, we learned from them to love and respect each other and we were always told that a little hard work will not hurt you. ‘Work hard when you are young so you can retire early’, dad always said.

“Their views on marriage were patience, fix it, do not throw it away, keep the family together.

Charlie and Jane Refalo on their wedding day on April 28, 1946 in Gozo, Malta.

“All Maltese are known by a nick name and ours is Tal-Bahri, that means he was a sailor.”

After they emigrated to Australia, Charlie and Jane Refalo lived in Blacktown with relatives where Mr Refalo got a job at the Minchinbury wine fields before moving to work with a petrol company in Auburn.

They moved to Pendle Hill two years later and started a market garden on their large property, growing vegetables in addition to having cows, goats and chickens.

The Refalos worked hard to look after their seven children Elizabeth, Mary, Joyce, Sonia, Kitty, Joe and Frances, who later married and moved out of the home.

For Charlie and Jane, this meant another change and they sold up and moved to Parklea where they began a horse agistment.

It was not the last home as they later moved to Box Hill where they now have the pleasure of being close not only to their seven children but 22 grandchildren and 37 great grandchildren.