Newspaper Article 2003 – Diamond wedding celebrated

Diamond wedding celebrated

CHARLIE and Isa Anderton celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at the Waipukurau Club on June 14, with a small circle of friends and relations.

The couple were married at St Mary’s Church, Waipukurau, on June 12, 1943, while Charlie was in the army and Isa was in the WAAF.

Charlie spent two years in the army in New Zealand. There were many final leaves, but finally the opportunity arrived, and while passing through Palmerston North Railway Station Charlie threw a stamped, addressed letter out of the window of the carriage, and some kind person posted it. Thus Isa was informed (strictly against security regulations) of the departure.

This was the beginning of two years overseas for Charlie, who transferred to the Assault Squadron before the final campaign.

In charge of a Sherman bulldozer tank, he had to go out into no man’s land, to make crossings for the tanks and cut through the many stop banks in the Po Valley.

This was at times a hair-raising experience, and Charlie was awarded a military medal for gallantry.

Isa continued in the Air Force until pregnancy intervened, and seven months after Charlie left the country the first of their three children, Ross, was born. Ross now lives in Kelowna BC Canada, where he has a practice specialising in respiratory problems.

Neil, the couple’s second son, is a chartered engineer living in London. Neil is married with one son.

Daughter Judy is married to Don MacDonald, and together they run Mangatarata Station, in conjunction with a homestay business.

When Charlie returned from the war in 1946 the Andertons began farming the home block in Otane, then needing a little more scope moved to Carlyon Station on Farm Road in 1960. There they rebuilt the homestead, and added a new woolshed, sheep-yards and stockyards. Following a policy of top dressing and fencing renewal, the Andertons doubled the stock carrying capacity of Carlyon Station over the twenty years of farming the property.

In 1980 Mangatarata Station came up for auction, and the Andertons, in conjunction with Judy and Don, bought the property.

Charlie and Isa have many interests. Charlie has been a dedicated dog trialist for many years and has over 30 championship placings in both huntaway and heading events, including winning New Zealand events, North Island and Hawke’s Bay championships.

Charlie is a past president of the Pakeke Lions, and is also active in the KEVHB Founders Society and CHB Probus, and with a large garden as well there is no time to get bored. Isa is a very keen golfer and has her fair share of trophies to prove it, and also plays bridge and Mah Jong if there is time left over after maintaining a large flower garden and a household.

Photo caption – Isa and Charlie Anderton pictured during the symbolic cutting of the cake 60 years after they cut it together for the first time.