Couple strong after 60 years together

Retired army captain Joe Lee is something of an expert on marriage, having been married to the same woman for 60 years.

He said the secret for men to enjoy a happy and stable marriage was just common sense.

“Treat the woman with respect and listen to her views, and you must be very sincere,” he said.

Mr Lee’s wife Alsie said many younger women tended to make independent decisions, but her advice to those trying to decide if they had met Mr Right was not to rush and to seek wise counsel.

“Choose wisely,” she said.

“Get to know him a little bit before you take the plunge and get married, and take him home to Mother — she’ll sort him out,” Mrs Lee said.

Married in Perth in 1955, Mr and Mrs Lee celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last week with a Chinese meal with their former bridesmaid and family and friends.

The pair met at WA Army headquarters in Perth where Mrs Lee (nee Pluschke) worked in administration and Mr Lee had recently returned from active service in Korea and Japan.

“I thought she was a very pretty girl and I was determined to get to know her better,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Lee, a former ballroom dance instructor who won Novice Ballroom Champion WA in 1950, said his greatest achievement was marrying the girl from Northampton.

“We’ve had a lot of contentment as a couple,” he said.

The pair have lived in Geraldton for 31 years and have three daughters, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.