Published on Tuesday, 13 February 2024 at 11:29:00 AM
Welcome to #TimeWarpTuesday and our celebration of love and marriage called
“A Victoria Park Romance”.
Ray and Jean WEBSTER
Ray met Jean when he went dancing at the old Victoria Park Town Hall, and he was captivated from the start. The couple married in November 1956, and then moved to Victoria Park to start their journey as husband and wife. Ray worked first in the telegraph office and moved later into working with airline companies MMA McRobertson Miller and for 31 years of his career he worked for Ansett. The couple settled in the newly established suburb of Lathlain and raised their two children Margaret and Ron. The year that Ray and Jean were celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary, in 2021, Ray was still calling Jean “his Waterloo”! The love between the two was and is tangible and true, to anyone who meet’s them.
Ray and Jean Webster at the 2011 Town Faithful Celebration, in the Function Room of the Town of Victoria Park Administration Building, 99 Shepperton Road, Victoria Park.
Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
Cyril and Lois FARLEY
They met on a tram, with one a regular passenger the other a conductor. Their first date was a trip to see the lights of Perth from the vantage spot of King’s Park. The couple celebrated 61 years of married life together at the time of Cyril’s passing in 2011. The couple lived in Basinghall Street, East Victoria Park and lent their musical talents to their local church, nursing homes, and established and taught choirs as well as their day jobs of MTT (old name for TransPerth) and being a dental nurse. Cyril and Lois had four children, and many grandchildren. In the 2001 Oral History Interview with Cyril that was conducted by Jan McCahon, Cyril said about his wife Lois and their marriage: …”There we are fifty years married, if I had another fifty-one years together I would have it.”
To learn more about Cyril please consider coming to our free family history workshop on Wednesday 21 February. We will begin the session with the story of Cyril and Lois Farley, show photographs, and there will be a special guest performer to sing us a classic Australian song from the 1920s during the session. There will also be morning tea and following that a hands-on workshop giving you time to get started on your own family history tree journey with staff on hand to offer practical advice and assistance.
Cyril and Lois being showered in confetti following their marriage on 18 February 1950, Victoria Park Methodist Church, Duncan Street.
Courtesy of the Farley Family. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library
Cyril and Lois leaving the church following their marriage on 18 February 1950, Victoria Park Methodist Church, Duncan Street.
Courtesy of the Farley Family. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library
An official wedding portrait of the newly married Cyril and Lois Farley.
Courtesy of the Farley Family. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library
Martin and Hilda Anastasia HEALY
After serving in World War I, being captured and spending time as a Prisoner of War in Germany, Martin married his sweetheart, Hilda Anatasia IVERSON on 19 July 1924. They had two daughters, Cecilia Mary Healy (1925-2002) and Dorothy Margare Healy (1926-1995). Martin trained as an electrician and worked for the State Electricity Commission of WA. Martin would later serve in World War II in bomb disposal, mostly he was stationed on Rottnest Island.
PH00050-06 Postcard sent from Hilda Iverson to Martin Healy while he was in Egypt
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service
PH00050-07 Reverse of PH00050-06 Postcard sent from Hilda Iverson to Martin Healy.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service
PH00050-08 Martin John Healy at Gefangenenlager Minden Prisoner of War Camp, Germany.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service
PH00050-09 Postcard being the reverse of PH00050-08 including a handwritten note from Martin John Healy, sent whilst a POW.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
PH00050-10 Wedding of Martin John Healy and Hilda Anastasia Iverson, 19 July 1924.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
PH00050-11 Hilda Anastasia Healy (nee Iverson) on her wedding day, 19 July 1924.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
PH00050-16 Martin John Healy and Hilda Healy (nee Iverson), circa 1940s.
Courtesy of Denise Grassi. Local History Collection, Town of Victoria Park Library Service.
Do you have stories and photographs about your ‘Victoria Park Romance’ that you can share with us at the Library? We’d love to hear from you. We can scan and return original photographs and documents. Please get in touch with us via Ph: 08 9373 5500, E: vicparklibrary@vicpark.wa.gov.au, or drop in.
#LoveVicPark #AVictoriaParkRomance #ValentinesDay #LibraryLoversDay
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