My post this week will be very brief. From the look of the terrain behind them, the couple standing in the river shallows might have been in some danger from a landslide, and neither of them look dressed for a planned river crossing.
My photograph, in contrast, is of a young pair who look very happy, with no threats to be seen, although of course they would not want to have been standing anywhere near that huge tree trunk behind them whenever it came down. Their names were Joey and Win, probably short for Joseph and Winifred, and the photo comes from a little album lovingly put together by my late father-in-law Bob, beginning with the arrival in Melbourne on New Year's Day 1947 of Mary, his English bride-to-be, and her meeting his family, their wedding later that month, their honeymoon and several other holidays that year. The page on which the photo appears is very neatly captioned "Lorne 12 January". Lorne is a seaside town on the Victorian coast, about an hour away from Bob's family home in Geelong, close to the Great Otway National Park. Bob and Mary had obviously gone out with their friends for a relaxing day in the countryside, before they got too busy with pre-wedding preparations. It doesn't look as if there's any real danger of Joey and Win falling in, and they just look like they are enjoying being together. I don't think Joey was Bob's best man, and as far as I know, he and Bob weren't related. I could ask Mary if she remembers who they were and whether or not they remained a couple, but it doesn't really matter. They were happy at that moment in time.
 |
| Joey and Win |
For more takes on this week's theme, just wade across to Sepia Saturday #254
Post script:
For completeness, here is a photo of Mary, Bob the photographer's 22 year old bride to be on the day, newly arrived from England and showing off her culotte type shorts which I think Win was probably also wearing. That log she's walking across and the wire fence she's leaning against look a bit precarious to me!
I am reliably informed by Mary that Joey, the young man with his girlfriend above, was not called Joseph, but was Alan Johanson, and that despite my not recognising him from the wedding photographs, he was in fact Mary and Bob's best man. Alan was a signwriter. The bad news is that Joey and Win did not remain a couple, but he did marry a girl called Helen a few years later and hopefully they enjoyed a happy life together. Here is another photograph of Joey in uniform, looking suitably charming.
21 comments:
Joey and Win really do look happy together. I hope it lasted. Don’t you just love the old names? I’ve got an Aunt Winnie but no Jo’s (that I know about)
Absolutely spot on Jo. As you say, it’s a perfect example of a snapshot in time and a moment of true happiness.
What a neat, happy picture! Like Barbara, I hope their joy of being together lasted. One would certainly like to think so, anyway. A lovely post.
The looks so much in love. Young and in love - a wonderful thing! And with nature all around them.
Such a happy photograph and so apt for this week's theme.
I love how Joey is leaning his head on Win's. She must have been chilly - isn't she wearing his jacket?
Whatever the ending story, they are indeed, dry, safe from sliding rocks and happy as two peas in a pod!
The lady looks like she is in a bit of a precarious position, standing on one leg.
Looking closer at their attire, he's got a vest and his sleeves rolled up, while she's in a skirt much too short for the times, and wearing his jacket (probably.)
I imagine Win was wearing the full type of shorts that were popular back then - as you say, mini skirts would have been unheard of in 1947!
It certainly is a lovely photo that could be the same today, a very happy young couple
Yes, I think she's wearing shorts.
They look so relaxed and happy. Win was very brave to make such big changes in her life.
What a lovely natural photograph that is. Happiness drips from it.
You couldn't pose for a shot like that. it has to happen naturally between two happy people.
When you say A Moment in Time for a snapshot it makes sense. That's what they really are, as are some of our memories, just moments in time which we remember often for some unknown reason. I like that. A Moment in Time. Nice photos.
A lovely couple. Yes, the moment was captured and I imagine this was a cherished shot.
I think I would have stood on the down tree but that wire fence looks a bit iffy. The man in the first photo looks as though he's posing, but they do look a happy couple.
He may not have been carrying her, but he's donated his jacket for her to wear. A lovely photo of Joey & Win. I imagine Mary was feeling a bit overwhelmed by her first experience of the Australian bush...brave girl.
Mary was a bit worried when she got off the boat and no one was there to meet her, because Bob had got the arrival time wrong. He and his 'welcoming committee turned up eventually, otherwise she would have been stranded, especially if he'd had second thoughts!
Hopefully Bob gave Joey and Win a copy. I don't know that getting copies made was what people did back then. Now of course you would just clck and send!
I love reading these stories about real people.
Post a Comment