A 70th wedding anniversary is a milestone and one that Peter and Ray Hickson were happy to celebrate with their family, including daughter Lyn who travelled from Tasmania as a surprise guest for the occasion.
A young Ray Pelger moved from England to Australia in 1951 to take up a job at Government House in Hobart.
She and Peter met at the TCA ground on Hobart’s Domain.
Peter worked in the canteen for the Hobart Football Club and Ray went on Saturday nights, putting bets on for people who worked at Government House.
They married on 17 April 1953 at the Wesley Methodist Church in Hobart.
The couple had four children – Stephen, Lyn, Wayne and Sonia.
They lived at Geilston Bay for 29 years where they were involved with the Masonic Club of Tasmania, Ray selling Bingo tickets and acting as the caller and Peter as President of the Club for several years.
In 1975 the bulk ore carrier Lake Illawarra hit the Tasman Bridge and knocked out a couple of pylons. It took a few years for the bridge to be repaired, a ferry ride being the only way for Peter to avoid a 90 kilometre trip to work.
Peter worked for Hobart City Council for 46 years, beginning in the Town Clerk’s Department and last moving to the City Treasurer’s Department.
He retired in 1992. Then in 1998 he and Ray followed their dream to move to Queensland.
“As soon as we drove into Canungra, I could just see it was the place for us,” said Ray.
“After we saw our block of land at Wonglepong, we never even looked at any others.”
They became heavily involved with the Canungra Bowls Club, where Peter is still Men’s President and Ray was the Ladies’ President for 14 years and Ladies’ Games Director for 18 years.
Ray has compiled the bowls results and rainfall for Canungra Times for many years.
Peter and Ray have four children, 14 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
They celebrated their anniversary with a family lunch at the Coomera Lodge Hotel.
