Former school yard sweethearts have been married for 60 years
Back row from left, Tryphena DeVere, Erin DeVere, James DeVere, Benjamin DeVere, Connor Bateman, Richard Soutter, Kath Bateman & Mark Soutter at the 60th anniversary. Front row, Graham Soutter, Sandra Soutter and Rose Soutter.
Graham and Sandra Soutter met on Sandra’s first day at school at Keil Mountain 74 years ago. Last Sunday (January 28) the schoolyard sweethearts celebrated 60 years of marriage. The celebration was held at Woombye School of Arts lower hall, the very same hall that hosted their wedding reception on January 25 in 1964.
“My mum met my dad on her first day of school at Keil Mountain,” explained daughter Rose Soutter, the second youngest of six. “They have known each other now for 74 years and have been happily married for sixty of those.
Graham cut cane in his early days and was the first man in the district to drive a cane harvester. Prior to harvesting Graham held the record for cutting the most cane by hand.
Sandra’s maiden name is Pringle. Pringle Road in Nambour is named after her family.
The couple on their wedding day.
Two days off a year
It was in Diddillibah that Graham and Sandra started farming strawberries, tomatoes and a few other crops. “The work was hard with only two days off each year: Christmas day and Bathurst,” said Rose of her motor sports-loving parents.
“They opened a fruit and vege shop in Mooloolaba and after many years retired, nearly broke, no house, no 7.5 acres of lush Diddillibah farm land. Just themselves and their tired bodies, moving to our house in Nambour owned by my eldest Sister, Kath.”
They are now both in there 80s. “Dad is a heart attack survivor and mum has had two strokes. Yet even after all of this they are two of the happiest people you would ever meet and their love for each other has no bounds,” said Rose.
In 2022 Graham was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer and Sandra battles extreme fatigue since suffering three strokes.
The message from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
“They love having us around for our monthly family lunches but, aside from that, it is difficult to convince them to leave their house even for Christmas Day. So you can imagine our surprise when some weeks ago they started dropping hints about us kids throwing them a party.”
Graham said it was letters of congratulations from local and national leaders that sparked the couple’s enthusiasm for a celebration.
“I hadn’t checked the mailbox for about ten days so I thought I had better do it, I opened the door and there was a heap of mail,” said Graham. “The first one is from Ted O’Brien, our Federal Member. The next one is from the Governer General, David Hurley. Then the Premier of Queensland, Steven Miles. Then our State Member, Robert Skelton, followed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. And last of all, but by no means least, King Charles and Queen Camilla. And a week before, there was Jeannette Young, the Governor of Queensland. All offering Sandra and myself sincere congratulations on our 60th Wedding Anniversary. We were stoked.”
“I guess it reassured them that this milestone is indeed a huge deal,” said Rose.