Millicent Spencer
Star Weekly is taking a look back at 2023. Here’s one of our biggest stories from last year.
This Valentines Day there is love in the air for Doreen couple John and Christine Yeoman who are celebrating their 60th year of marriage.
Mr and Mrs Yeoman have not only been life partners for six decades, but business partners for 43 of those years.
Mr Yeoman said the key to their love has been their shared passions.
“I still love my wife as much today as when we got married,” he said.
“We’ve always shared the same interests which makes a big difference in a marriage.”
Mr Yeoman has lived in Doreen for over 40 years and currently lives on a 260-acre property.
“We share the same passion for harness racing [and] breed and race horses on our farm,” he said.
Animals have been a constant in the couples life, after meeting at a dog show in 1961.
“We met at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds one day [because] I used to show dogs when I was younger and my wife had an interest,” Mr Yeoman said.
“We got on very well together from day one and were still very much in love.
“We’ve shared lots of things together and when we’ve gone overseas we’ve always travelled together.”
Mr Yeoman, with 81 years of wisdom said it has been the team effort approach his relationship has fostered.
“We haven’t had any conflict… and as you can get the vibes coming through from me, we are still very much a team.”
The couple have two daughters and three grandchildren who they are “very proud” of.
Mr Yeoman said celebrations for their diamond anniversary are already underway.
“Yesterday we got a letter from the King congratulating us on our 60th anniversary… it came in a real flash envelope,” he said.
“We’ve also got one from our PM Mr Albanese, one from the Governor, one from Mr Andrews, and one from the Governor of Victoria.
“We didn’t expect to receive so many congratulations letters but we are very proud to have received them.”
