Couple celebrates 63 years married

By Frank Neill

Avis and John Barrett celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on 26 March.

The Johnsonville residents marked the major milestone at Kenepuru Hospital, where John is currently a patient.

A week before the anniversary, John’s family feared that he would not be around to celebrate, owing to illness.

However “he managed to pull through,” his daughter Pam Mulford says, thanks to the “amazing” work of Kenepuru Hospital’s doctors and nursing staff.

Avis, who is 81, and John, who is 85, were married at St Andrew’s Church, Levin on 26 March 1960.

The two met while working for the New Zealand Customs Service, where John spent his entire working life.

Avis left Customs when she had her first child and then later worked at Woolworths, winning checkout operator of the year during her time at the store.

Both Avis and John are well known in sporting circles.

John played football for the

Johnsonville Club before it was renamed the North Wellington Football Club. He was President of the club for many years as well as a long-serving coach.

One of the players John coached was Maureen Jacobson, who went on to play Football for New Zealand. The midfielder made her Football Ferns debut in 1979 and went on to become the second most capped female player with 60 caps and 20 goals to her credit. John was, in fact, Maureen’s first coach.

John’s support for the North Wellington Football Club continued right up until his recent hospitalisation.

Both Avis and John have served as club captains of the Ohariu Valley Golf Club and both played the game for many years.

John took up bowls later in life, joining the Johnsonville Bowling Club, while Avis played tennis and table tennis.

Avis was also a jazz dancer, passing her jazz examination with honours and distinction.

John and Avis have three sons –John, Robert and David, and one daughter, Pam Mulford. They have four granddaughters and one great grandson.