By Mary Pitt

In 2012 we celebrated my parents’ wedding anniversary at the Hyatt. This was not an unusual event as we had celebrated their 50^th and 60^th anniversaries with family here also.

That year was their 65^th anniversary and my husband had applied to all levels of government for the obligatory congratulatory cards. They received cards from HM Queen Elizabeth, the Governor General, Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher. I would hazard a guess that this rare moment in history, when all four political leaders in Australian government were woman, will not be repeated in our lifetime. The cards are treasured mementoes but more so, our memories are of the staff, who once they were aware of the occasion arranged for us to use one of the small private dining rooms. We were treated like royalty.

The staff were as excited at the occasion as we were and each waiter respectfully read the cards, offered their congratulations and gave my fragile, aged parents a meal they would not forget.  One staff member even suggested that we approach Julia Gillard to meet my parents and personally sign her card, as she was attending another event at the Hyatt at the time.

My husband and I were also celebrating our Silver wedding anniversary (25 yrs) and our son’s 22^nd birthday the same day, but we did not mind being overshadowed on this occasion. It was always a busy time for our family.

Footnote: Shortly after this, my mother lost her sight but she could fondly recall the attention and kindness of her celebration of a long and happy marriage. It was clearer to her that her own frugal post war wedding.

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