Six decades of wedded bliss

In December 1950 Refat and Hertha Suleyman arrived in Australia from war-torn Europe with one suitcase and a one-year old child.

They weren’t even sure the small military plane they managed to secure a flight on would make the long journey from Europe to Australia, but figured it was worth the risk.

Fifty-eight years later Mr and Mrs Suleyman have four children, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and have retired to Keiraville.

This April they will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.

Refat Suleyman met his wife in Germany in the 1940s after fleeing his native country Ukraine.

The couple were married in 1948 and a year after the birth of their first child decided to make a better life for themselves on the other side of the world in Australia.

For years they lived in migrant hostels and for a long time Mr Suleyman had to live away from his family while he travelled to find work in the Illawarra.

Eventually the family rejoined and moved to the Illawarra permanently.

The Suleyman’s started a door-to-door fruit and vegetable run before opening their own fruit shop on Shellharbour Road Warilla, which they ran for 20 years from the 50s right through to the 70s.

The family used to spend a lot of time there, working together with the children helping out in the business before and after school.

After that Mr Suleyman went back to work in his original trade as a cabinetmaker.

He only decided to retire a few years ago.

Now aged in their mid-eighties, the couple are still very independent and remain very close to their children.

Mr Suleyman developed Parkinson’s Disease several years ago and, despite getting on in years, Mrs Suleyman insists on helping him through his illness on her own.

The Suleymans will celebrate their Diamond 60th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends on April 13 this year.