Mercy Place resident Dawn Freeman and husband Graham still going strong after 65 years together

The Freemans met when they were both 16 at Hamilton (Western Victoria) and by the time they were 21, they were married.

Today, Graham doesn’t require aged care support but each day at lunch time the couple meets up at the Warrnambool home for the aged.

Staff say Dawn can be spotted eagerly awaiting Graham’s daily arrival.

This week, Dawn temporarily left Mercy Place Warrnambool for a date with Graham, alongside 15 of their immediate family including all their grandchildren for dinner at the local bowls club to mark the milestone.

“The fabulous staff at Mercy Place also helped to organise what we wanted to do in the afternoon and did their best with the current COVID situation so we are very thankful,” said Mrs Freeman.

While the COVID pandemic had been difficult for the couple, they were particularly looking forward to joining some family members they hadn’t seen in close to two years.

“We’re at the age now where we can’t live together and we know that, but he’s lonely and so am I,” Mrs Freeman said.

“But he can come here every day and he’s got a compassionate pass so can stay for however long he wants. We talk for hours,” she said.

They also joke about their longevity.

“We came home one day and told everyone we were getting married,” Mr Freeman said.

“Everybody thought we were just doing it because Dawn was pregnant (which she wasn’t). Her mother was not amused.”

But the announcement was eventually welcomed, with the occasion proving to be a family affair.

“Graham’s uncle Peter made the wedding cake, while my own uncle married us,” she said.

“It was fantastic.”