A MARRIAGE that took place in the Black Forrest, Germany, has stood the test of time with the couple now celebrating being together for 60 years in Forrestfield.
Heinrich and Renate Beuke tied the knot on November 8, 1963, and have been together ever since, with the couple and their children emigrating to Forrestfield in 1983 – the year of their 20th wedding anniversary, where they have lived since.
Reflecting on their special day, they said the best gift they received was 350 German Duestche Marks (roughly $290 AUD) from Heinrich’s parents, who sold a pig to get the money.
Heinrich, also known as Heinz, originally hails from the north of Germany while Renate grew up in the Black Forrest. Before coming to Forrestfield, they lived in Triberg and Freiburg, where their two sons were born. Their third child, a daughter, was born just out of Hildesheim.
Heinz worked as a master butcher south of Perth for many years, before then travelling to Asia to help teach others his craft.
He worked in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and China, and is still renowned for his smoked meats all these years later.
Since coming to Perth, Renate and Heinz have formed close ties to the Austrian-German community, a position which led them to presenting the one-hour Austrian radio program on 6EBA from 2009 to 2016.
Friend and founder of the German language magazine Treffpunkt WA Christine Nicol-Burmeister said she met the Beuke’s through Heinz’s butcher shop in 1989 and was a frequent customer to the store, calling his products a taste of home for the homesick German expatriates.
“They were excellent products which we bought regularly, it was very good, very tasty,” she said.
Mrs Nicol-Burmeister said that the Beuke’s did lots of work for the Austrian club in Perth, with Renate running the kitchen and Heinz president of the club at one stage.
She said they now organise weekly catchups for elderly German speakers, giving them the ability to socialise, remain active and speak in their mother tongue.
The Beuke’s celebrated the day with an afternoon tea with family before having dinner with friends.
