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Howdy Folks! It is hard to believe its yet another year!
Over the break I have been looking back at the past and
deciding where to go from here. I’ve had such an amazing
journey and it is great to think that ideas have the power
to change the world in just a little way.
I’m so proud that I’ve had the opportunity to connect
many seniors and young people together through the art
of storytelling. I truly believe that everyone has a story to
share and having a simple chat can open many doors.
Not only did we share stories, we have created wonderful
friendships. To me our Celebrate Living History interns
are the lifeblood of what we do. Their enthusiasm to
capture an amazing story will always make me smile.
One of our fabulous Swinburne University graduates
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Connecting young
people and seniors to
document stories for
future generations
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Spread the Love Hearts by
Melissa HaberSemester 1: 2016
Words from Bev
Wilkinson
Words from Bev the founder
of Celebrate Living History
It started with a
Dance
Inspirational
Young Person
Words of Wisdom
Sponsors
Contact details
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2. Celebrate Living History www.celebratelivinghistory.com Semester 1: 2016
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When Bob asked 16 year-old Ineke to dance
at a social ball, neither of them realised that
nearly fifty years later, they would still be
dancing together at their children’s, and
their grandchildren’s, parties.
Bob was 24. He and his friends would finish
footy practice, put on their best suits, sneak
a bit of alcohol in their Coca-Cola bottles,
and go to the social dance nights in the
hope of “meeting people”, or rather,
meeting girls. Ineke and her friends would
do the same, putting on long dresses and
gloves. “That’s what young people used to
do for fun,” Ineke says, “Everyone would
just dance. There was no alcohol, unless
you snuck it in like Bob.”
They danced all night, and Bob was the
cause of Ineke missing the last bus home,
which meant he could give her a lift. “I saw
this little blonde,” he says. “And I thought,
‘I’ll ask her to dance’. From then on it was
like BOM! It was on. That was it.”
It started with a dance
By Elise Cook
It wasn’t long after that the two decided to
marry, and a month after the proposal they
tied the knot. “Everyone thought we were
pregnant or something, which we weren’t,
we just wanted to get married!” Ineke says.
When asked what the wedding was like, they
weren’t quite sure how to put it:
“Oooohhh… it was ok,” Ineke says.
“It was… what would you call it?” says Bob.
“Rushed.”
Ineke had to become Catholic to marry Bob.
A priest came to the house the morning of
the wedding so that she could confess her
sins. The whole things upset Ineke’s parents,
but to them the process meant very little.
“We weren’t Christians so it didn’t really
mean anything.
We just wanted to get married”, Ineke
shares. Little did they know that later down
the track, becoming Christians would
completely reshape their marriage.
They describe the early years of their
marriage as being the most difficult.

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Being young and immature was one of the biggest obstacles,
along with the life that came with running a pub. “Because
we spent a lot of our early years in the pub, it meant we were
always around alcohol, which made everything more
difficult,” Ineke shares.
“It also meant that we often misunderstood each other. One
of the most important things in a marriage is to listen to each
other and talk to each other. That was our biggest problem,
so much goes misunderstood when you miss those steps.”
Twenty- two years into their marriage Ineke and Bob became
Christians and they describe it as a turning point in their
relationship. “From that point on we became incredibly
close,” says Bob. Ineke says she came to know the Lord
reading a verse in the Bible, and asked Bob to go to church
with her.
When Bob listened to a pastor talking about unconditional
love at the local Baptist Church, he gave his life to God that
same day. Not long after, their three teenage children also
became Christians, and it marked the beginning of a new
depth to Bob and Ineke’s relationship, which has remained
strong ever since.
When asked what some of the most monumental moments
in their marriage have been, they both agreed that the births
of their three children were absolute highlights. They also
talked about travelling overseas together, and both being
able to reconnect with their heritage, the places they were
born and spent their early childhoods. For Ineke it was
Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. “It was a huge thing,” says
Ineke. She was 10 years old when she came to Australia by
boat, as was Bob when he left his hometown. For him that
place was County Durham in the UK, where upon arrival
things got very emotional. “He just cried,” Ineke recalls. Bob
remembers life in England; “Things were pretty bad. There
was no employment. My Father fixed up bombing sites. I
had six sisters and they wanted big families to move to
Australia. It cost ten pound to move the whole family, but it
was a struggle to even get that ten pound together.”
Today, Bob and Ineke’s favorite way to spend time together
is to sit in their backyard with a glass of wine, feeding the
birds.
They describe their love for each other now as comfortable
and relaxed. “Its the type of love where you can be at ease
with that person all the time,” says Bob. “She is my heart’s
home.”
What Inspires You?
The smiles on the faces
of people I try and help
inspires me.
Whenever, I am teaching
young migrants some
school subject and they
grin to portray their
understanding satisfies
me to an extend that it
becomes a motivation to
continue community
service and gives and
incredible feeling of
being useful to the
society.
Inspirational
Young Person
Khurram Jahangir
Khan

4. Celebrate Living History www.celebratelivinghistory.com Semester 1: 2016
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Continued from page 1
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Melissa Haber mentioned an idea of connecting with folks
who don’t have loved ones on Valentines Day.
While this is a day full of love, this can be a day full of
sadness and can make some feel lonely in the world.
We can be surrounded by people but yet feel very alone.
This idea resonated with me very strongly. While I was on
placement at the aged care facility, I could see clients who
had visitors on a regular basis held a more optimistic
outlook on the world. It is amazing what a difference just
having family and friends visit can make.
I felt sad for those that did not have friends or family visit
often. While I know they are not alone, it makes such a
difference to laugh and be appreciated by those who care
about you.
It can be the simple things that can make all the
difference.
So in the spirit of connecting folks in the community, I
want to make this Valentines Day one to remember.
Are you part of a community, school, TAFE,
University, church or workplace group that are
willing to make love hearts?
All you need is red paper, glue, pens and a whole swag of
creative fun!
Find a local retirement home, hospital or meals and
wheels and distribute these love hearts.
Help bring a smile to someone’s face! Take a photo and
send these wonderful pictures to
celebratelivinghistory@gmail.com for us to feature photos
on our website www.celebratelivinghistory.com or hashtag
#spreadlove16 on Instragram.
Lets bring the community together to make this
Valentines Day one to remember!
Griffith University intern
Andrejs Boboks
interviewed Robert about
how to live a more creative
and passionate life.
Robert says his advice to
younger generations is if
you are going to live a
creative and fulfilling life,
doing something about
mindful awareness is an
excellent thing to do.
“It helps you to stay sane,
stay in the present and
helps you to awake to your
life and nature, what it
really is about” he says
“That helps you to create
some sort of foundation.”
In addition Robert says to
play it cool and live your
life as it comes to you.
“Deal with your ups and
downs and create what you
want to do with your life
with passion and with
rational sensibility.”
Words of Wisdom

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Till later gang!
Bev
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(Continued)
Thanks to our sponsors and supporters!

6. Celebrate Living History
PO BOX 11253
Frankston 3199
celebratelivinghistory@gmail.com
www.celebratelivinghistory.com.au
Contact: