The oldest living Rotarian in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) celebrated a very special wedding anniversary this week.

Mr Ronnie Roux (88) and his wife Zoe (84) tied the knot on 9 July 1949 in Springs. This week, the Rotarians celebrated with them in their home in Rivier Street on their 65th anniversary.

The Rouxs came to Louis Trichardt in 1964 after 10 fruitful and successful years in the then Northern Rhodesia. “Our object was to put up a cotton factory here and get farmers to produce cotton,” said Ronnie, a successful businessman and retired managing director of Tongaat Hulett's cotton division. He was supposed to have retired in Tongaat but he preferred to stay in Louis Trichardt. When Ronnie retired at age 65, Zoe was still working as a receptionist for Coxwell and Steyn, a position she had held for 25 years. Ronnie immersed himself in carpentry, which helped him in the retirement process.  “I am the oldest living Rotarian and the oldest mason in town. I told Zoe the other day that I now know more dead people than I know living people,” said Ronnie with a wink.

Ronnie had known Zoe from their high school days in Springs, he being her senior, of course. It was, however, at church guild meetings on Friday evenings that the friendship started to blossom. By then, Ronnie was already a working young man. “It just grew on me. And when we were married, I was 23 and she was 19. I was called a cradle snatcher, but soon afterwards she turned 20," Ronnie said. The couple have two daughters and three grandchildren.

What is their secret to being a couple for 65 years? “Love and respect. Actually, caring love and respect. It is the caregiving that counts. Caregiving is more intense than any job that I ever had and I am not going to give it up, “ said Ronnie, who takes care of his beloved Zoe, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a couple of years ago. 

“Zoe is the most amazing person,” said Ronnie and added that she had never lost her charm. Zoe still enjoys walking and had reached great heights in sport. “She was an acrobatic dancer and the fastest girl in Springs High. In Standard 8, she played for the Eastern Transvaal Senior women's hockey team,” said Ronnie, who in turn had played good amateur rugby and had Danie Craven as a personal friend.

“We love being part of this community,” said Ronnie. Later this month, when Zoe turns 85 on 24 July, they will travel to Pretoria to celebrate with their family.