Every night, ‘I love you’ are the final words exchanged between Tom and Lorraine Sherwood before bedtime; they’re now joyfully celebrating a remarkable 60 years of marriage.
On Saturday, December 28, 1963, the couple married in Croydon, Victoria. They moved to Shepparton in 1974 and bought their family home in Toolamba in 1975, where they still live today.
Lorraine said she and Tom had enjoyed a lovely 60 years together.
“We’ve had our ups and downs just like everybody else, but we have had a wonderful 60 years, and I don’t know that we would swap it,” she said.
The pair met while Tom worked with Lorraine’s brother, Ian.
“I worked in a shearing shed for a while, and Lorraine’s brother worked in the same shearing shed as me. We became very good mates and we used to travel all around,” Tom said.
“We were (working) in a shed down near where they lived (in Launching Place), and I was going to book into the local hotel. Ian said ‘No, no, come to our place and stay with us.’ And the rest is history.”
Although she and Tom have faced their fair share of challenges, they have always remained honest with one another.
“It’s important to be truthful to one another, and don’t hide any secrets. We’ve always been upfront and honest with one another,” Lorraine said.
“Over the 60 years, we’ve had our ups and downs, but we do love each other’s company. We don’t go anywhere without one another. Everywhere we go, we’re right there with each other.”
Their love is something that many people hope for and work towards, but Tom could only describe them as “blessed”.
“I don’t think we’re smarter than anyone else; it’s just good luck to meet someone that you’re happy with,” he said.
“We’ve always done things together, which is great. Some people probably look at us and think we’re very strange because we do everything together, but we enjoy doing that.”
Tom and Lorraine have two daughters, Diana and Carolyn, who check in with them daily.
“Every day, they ring up for no good reason except to see how we’re going,” Tom said.
They also have three grandsons and one granddaughter, who is the youngest at 25.
Diana and Carolyn even organised an anniversary message from the King.
“We were very lucky; our daughter had gone ahead and organised a beautiful card from the King. I was actually quite surprised when I opened it up; both Camilla and Charles have signed it,” Lorraine said.
“We also got certificates from all the dignitaries here in Shepparton, the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. We had all these certificates sent to us and it was just beautiful.”
Tom and Lorraine love spending time with their family and friends — when they’re not out exploring Australia in their caravan.
“We’re very fortunate because I love travelling and Tom loves travelling, so it works out really well. We have a lovely caravan and we’re always away in it,” Lorraine said.
“We’ve been going to Mildura, back to the same spot with a group of about 20 people. We all meet up and have a great time.
“We’ve been going up there for about 50-odd years now, on and off between children being born and other things. We love it.
“We go while we can because who knows what’s around the corner for any of us.”
Tom agreed that despite seeing the rest of the country in their caravan, Mildura was their favourite place to go.
“We’ve been right around Australia, but we love going to Mildura-Wentworth, it’s lovely,” he said.
“I love my fishing; Lorraine likes to go shopping with the girls and play bingo. We would have honestly as many friends there as we do here; we’ve been going there that long.”
Over the years, Lorraine has faced some health issues, but Tom has remained right by her side.
“Tom’s been wonderful with my sickness. He’s always been there to do everything for me. But we’re always there for one another and we help one another,” Lorraine said.
Tom and Lorraine’s advice for younger couples is to sit down and talk about issues rather than give up.
“Discuss things. I think a lot of the young ones today don’t do that, whereas if we’ve had a problem, we’ve always sat and talked about it,” Lorraine said.
Although Tom agreed with Lorraine, he also said there was more to it.
“I think it’s more personal than that. We know a lot of couples that almost live separate lives. I don’t think that makes for a good marriage.
“Although some people are happy to do that, I don’t think that’s the way to go. That’s only my feelings. I can say that with some authority, though, because we’re still together 60 years on!”