By Tim Mayne
While many of us ponder what makes a relationship work Armadale residents Walter and Eva Borich have had 70 years to contemplate the topic.
“Keep away from each other and work separately,” 94-year-old Eva Borich said with a grin.
The couple will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year and have been living and working in the Armadale area since 1950.
The couple, who are now in their early nineties first met in Kalgoorlie in 1942 at a dance.
“I was one of six girls in Kalgoorlie back then so I was first cab off the rank,” Mrs Borich said.
“Walter was from Yugoslavia and had family he hadn’t seen for nine years so we both went back to Yugoslavia and we ended up staying there for five years.”
Walter ‘Wally’ Borich had trouble getting a visa but Eva was an Australian citizen so she could go back to Australia whenever she wanted to.
“She wouldn’t leave me even though she knew she could go back to Australia,” he said.
“Eva learned my language and could read and write and my father, who had worked in Australia, the US and New Zealand spoke English so he loved the fact that Eva was staying with us so he could practice his English.”
The Borich family not only helped serve their country during the war years in the 1940s but also contributed to building the Armadale community into what it is today.
“Eva went to Byford school shortly after it was first built,” he said.
“Our two children went to Good Shepherd School in Kelmscott which had 15 acres of bush and no garden so I said I would like to help and ended up clearing the land and planting the garden,” he said.
Mr Borich also helped the then Armadale City Council clear the land the current Armadale Hospital stands on and the couple were proud members of the Armadale Bowling Club.
“I have held every position at the Armadale Bowling Club expect treasurer and president,” Mr Borich said proudly.
“We have helped put thousands of dollars and hours of work into the club, something we are proud of.”
When it came to advice for younger married couples Mr and Mrs Borich said there was no secret to lasting and loving marriage.
“It’s give and take, there should be no secrets, just be honest with each other and don’t be pig headed or too bossy,” he said.
“Man and wife have arguments but you need to sit down, have a drink and talk about it and even perhaps try do to things differently, you need to compromise.”
