Phillip (83) and Yvonne (83) van Schalkwyk are celebrating 61 years of happy marriage this year.
Everyone who knows the Van Schalkwyks knows them as Uncle Phillip and Aunty Yvonne.
Phillip was born in Beaufort West. In his early years, he was in a convent in Beaufort West.
When Phillip was 14 years old he came to Heidelberg and enrolled in a trade school for two years.
After that Phillip went back to his home town. After leaving school, he worked for the railways for seven and a half years in Kenya as a train driver.
Yvonne (neé Verlaque) was born in Kenya and also brought up in a convent.
While in Kenya, Phillip met Yvonne and fell in love almost immediately. Yvonne at the time worked for the police force.
The couple married on November 10, 1962.
When the Van Schalkwyks moved to South Africa, they relocated to Heidelberg and have been staying in the same house for 55 years.
Most of the handyman work in the house Phillip did himself.
Phillip worked for the railways and mines before being employed at Otis Elevators where he worked for 37 years until his retirement in 2000.
The Van Schalkwyks keep themselves busy with various hobbies. Yvonne loves sewing and embroidery work. Phillip enjoys model building, puzzles, handyman work and working with his hands.
The couple have three daughters, Patricia (60), Perly (57) and Belinda (54), six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
When asked what their secret recipe is for longevity in their marriage Phillip said, “Standing by each other and helping each other, devoting your love to each other in all things and never giving up on each other.
“A marriage is never a quick fix but daily work to be better today than what you were yesterday.”
“Just to love Phillip is a reward in itself,” Yvonne said.
“But you need to want to be with your partner first. Trust is of utmost importance and enjoying being together day in and day out is what I see makes us successful.”
