Today's Golden age portrait is of the lovely Merle, who turns 88 this year.
My name is Merle Hatton and I was born in a country town called York in Western Australia, I was one of eleven children, 6 sisters & 4 brothers. I have 1 younger sister & 1 younger brother remaining in Western Australia. Life was always full of fun and get togethers ,
I met the love of my life at 16 & we married at 19 years of age. We had 5 children, the first a little girl was still born & went on to have 3 girls and a boy. My eldest daughter passed away 4 years ago & my husband passed away 8 months later so it was a very sad year. We were married almost 65 yrs , that left me feeling very lost but my other children are close by and very good to me. In 1966 we moved from the west to Cooranbong where my husband studied Theology and became a Seventh Day Adventist Minister, we then have been posted to various destinations including New Zealand, Sydney, Tasmania, & Victoria.
We retired back in Cooranbong, Life has certainly never been dull, we lived in 32 homes during our time so we learnt to be flexible . We have made so many beautiful life long friends along the way and met and help so many people, I wouldn't change it for the world. I am blessed to live in a community in my retirement village where there are always friends around watching out for one another. I feel blessed.
During her working career Merle worked in the health food store industry.
She has 9 Grandchildren, & 4 Great Grandchildren.
