WHEN it comes to true love, Jamberoo’s Beryl and John Hanigan are testament that no matter how tough things get, they are always there for each other.
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The couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family and friends at Warrigal Warilla, where John has been for more than three years suffering from Alzheimer’s, however despite the setback, Beryl still makes a daily pilgrimage to the home to spend the day with him.
The couple first met at the Show Ball at Albion Park when John was living at Kiama and Beryl on the family farm between Albion Park and Jamberoo. The relationship soon blossomed.
“Johnny was working at Tallawarra and started helping my father out on the farm – he would often be eating a piece of toast as he left for work, after helping milk in the mornings,” Mrs Hanigan said.
The couple were married at Jamberoo on February 19, 1955 and eventually took over the running of the farm. Son Gregory was born in 1958.
Sport always played a massive part in the Hanigan household, with John transferring from Kiama to Jamberoo, where he quickly established his credentials in a strong Superoo team, before constant head knocks put an end to his career.
However he quickly turned his attentions to the cricket field and his contribution to the Jamberoo Cricket Club is legendary.
He was a big-hitting middle order batsman and handy leg-spin bowler, and was long-time curator of the Jamberoo turf wicket, with most players agreeing he produced the best turf wicket in the area, and served many years as club president and junior coach.
“Johnny used to coach the kids in the morning, race home to milk the cows and then run off to play seniors and loved every minute of it,” Mrs Hanigan said.
“But his love for sport wasn’t just his, we all loved it, with Gregory playing first grade for Jamberoo from a very young age (and was promoted to captain the South Coast District first grade representative team at the age of just 21) and I used to make afternoon tea and clean up the canteen and was official scorer. If Jamberoo were playing football we would never miss a game.”
Both John and Beryl are life members of the Jamberoo Cricket Club, while Beryl has also been an active member of Jamberoo Red Cross and the Anglican Church.
John was a tireless worker in the establishment of the Jamberoo Golf Club and Jamberoo Combined Sporting Bodies, both of which he is also a life member.
The Hanigans say their only real disagreement has been over which National Rugby League team to follow. Beryl is a life-long Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles fan and John a St George Illawarra ‘tragic’.
“Yes, you could say we have had some interesting conversations over football over the years, but neither of us have given any ground,” Beryl said with a grin.
While Gregory and his wife Colleen purchased a property in Wagga Wagga many years ago and raised their five children, Liam, Tenille, Keenan, McGregor and Lakin-Maree there, the family are close and in constant contact.
“We have been very lucky to have such a wonderful son and family – we couldn’t wish for more.”
She also paid tribute to her two 'right-hand girls' Bev and Jenny Cochrane, who provide constant companionship and support also drive her to see John on a Saturday.