They may have wound up over the ditch, but Pat and Robbie Dixon's love story began here in the Bay of Plenty in the 1950s and it's still going 70 years later.

The 87-year-olds saw the end of 2022 out by celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary, the platinum anniversary, at the Croydon Hotel in Victoria, Australia.

'We had many friends and family attend and also family from New Zealand who we hadn't seen for ages. It was a great day,” says Pat. The platinum duo also received a congratulations letter from the new King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.

Blind date

Pat and Robbie married when they were just 17 years old in Pongakawa at Pat's mothers and stepfather's home on December 20, 1952. Fittingly, the theme of their wedding anniversary was ‘We still do since 1952'. It was the pair's parents who had a part to play in their getting together.

'Robbie's parents worked for Pax Hickson in Pongakawa and I was with my parents who worked on a farm across the road. Robbie needed a partner for a dance and our parents organised a blind date. 'And the rest is history you could say!”

Life's seasons

In 1958, Pat and Robbie moved to Tauranga to work on a farm in Cambridge Rd. In 1961 they built a home in Greerton, where their children grew up. 'We had four lovely daughters Barbara, Pamela, Valerie and Kathryn, who all went to Greerton Primary and later to Tauranga Girls' College.” At this time Robbie worked on dairy farms before driving trucks as a road worker. 'I began working full-time in 1967, at Richardson's Fashions and Fabrics in Greerton, then at Inductance Specialists,” says Pat. In 1979 the couple moved to Australia to be closer to family and have lived there ever since. Their seven-decade-long road of marriage hasn't been without its heartache, however. Pamela sadly died of cancer in 2002 at age 46. 'Like many marriages the early years are bumpy with bringing up little ones, shortage of money and lots of arguments but later things settle and go smoothly.” And while the couple, who have 13 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren, may not share a home anymore their love for one another is still ever present.

The key

Pat says Robbie now lives in aged care and has dementia.

'He still remembers me most of the time and I visit him daily.”

Pat shared what she loves most about her husband, who was one of the first team members at the Greerton Rugby Club. 'He is kind, hardworking, a very good cook – bonus – and loving. He tells me he thinks I am special.”

So what is the key to a long marriage? Pat says it's luck. 'Of course love is a very important part but meeting the right one in the first place I think is the key.

'We have come a long way since 1952 and are very proud of our achievements.”

Robbie Dixon and Pat Dixon, both aged 17, cutting their wedding cake in 1952.