Bill and Anne Hardy recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Anne [nee Rideout] was born in Penrith, while Bill came to Penrith in 1942.
They both attended St Joseph’s Convent School on the corner of High and Evan Street (now the OfficeWorks site), and Bill finished high school at Marist Brothers Parramatta.
Anne and Bill were in the local Catholic Youth Club and enjoyed dancing together, though they mixed socially, there was no romance till just prior Anne’s 21st birthday.
Bill says he saw Anne at a dance at the old Railway Institute, he hadn’t seen her for some months, he had almost every dance with her that night and took then her home, from there the romance blossomed.
On April 18, 1960, they were married in the old St Nicholas Church in Penrith and built their first home in Derby Street, Penrith.
Bill worked in the Valuer General’s Department in Penrith, Campbelltown, Bankstown and Parramatta, becoming the District Valuer in Penrith Offfice. Bill retired in 1995 as Regional Valuer for Sydney Western Region at Parramatta.
Anne, a stenographer, was private secretary to the Deputy Town Clerk at Penrith Council, and recorded Council minutes, but had to retire upon marriage, which was the requirement of many organisations at that time.
She became a full time mother to their four children, Julie Anne, Stephanie, Carolyn and Vince, as well as being involved with school and church activities.
They both enjoyed sport, Anne played tennis and golf, holding various committee positions at Leonay and Penrith Golf Clubs, she is currently Patroness at Penrith.
Bill enjoyed distance running, competing in a number of ‘City to Surf’ runs, his best time being 62 minutes. Bill was Vice Captain, Handicapper & Rules Official of Penrith Golf Club for a number of years.
They have travelled extensively thoughout Australia and since Bill’s retirement they have visited over 50 overseas countries.
In 2003 Bill and Anne move to Glenmore Park, they then moved to Anglicare Retirement Village at Caddens in 2014, where they are involved in village activities, including table tennis & bowls.
They have kept up church activities, Bill recently retired as an acolyte after 40 years.
They both are heavily involved with their family with nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
