For Lyn and Tom Neacy, having their own independence and keeping their own identity has driven them through a happy marriage for nearly 60 years.

The two love birds met as sports-mad teenagers and had their first date nearly sixty years ago at the drive-ins.

“My parents didn’t want me to go because I was only 16 and they thought Tom and I would get up to too much mischief. Little did they know I was going on a date with my future husband,” joked Lyn.

Lyn and Tom got married in 1965 and ran many successful businesses together. Lyn managed the finances and Tom managed the operations.

Tom bought Lyn her first car because he wanted her to have the confidence to do whatever she dreamed of doing, and the independence to go out and do it herself.

“When we got married, I didn’t have much confidence, but Tom encouraged me to do everything that I wanted to do and was always encouraging me to follow my dreams. He made me a better person, and that’s what love is all about,” said Lyn.

Lyn and Tom both agree that keeping your own identity in a marriage is also very important.

“I have a huge circle of girlfriends some of whom I have known for well over 70 years, and we still go away together. Tom also loves spending time with his golf mates and his band,” said Lyn.

Lyn and Tom both still love getting behind the wheel, so much so that Tom became an Uber Eats driver during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So many people were surprised when I delivered their food, I think a lot of them were confused because of my age, but it also made a lot of people smile. I loved it and it brought me a lot of joy,” said Tom.

For the past 18 months, Lyn and Tom have called St David’s Retirement Living, Mount Lawley home, and say it was the best thing they ever did.

“A few years ago, Tom became ill with a serious blood condition so while he was in the hospital, I started looking at residential and retirement living options and came across St David’s,” said Lyn.

“I now go out on our balcony every day and thank God that I found this place. The people here are beautiful and will be our friends for life. Our late son was called David, so I knew living here would be a special place for us.”

Tom and Lyn now also now receive in-home care services with Juniper so they can continue to live independently at home.

“I’ve had quite a few problems with my shoulder, so I was struggling to clean the house. Juniper now comes in once a fortnight and helps with our cleaning. It really helps Tom and I out and allows us to enjoy time doing the things we want to do,” said Lyn.