Joaquin Araullo
The Landings in North Turramurra is a beautifully rich community with a village atmosphere, gorgeous gardens, sunny courtyards and pocket parks. As a safe haven for seniors, the community is home to many who are treated with the proper care they need by dedicated team members and registered nurses 24/7.
Within The Landings community are couples who are currently still by each other’s side. In aid of our Golden Years Special this month, I took the wonderful opportunity to come down to The Landings to meet two seniors who have been married for 51 years, still together, still hand in hand, still very much loving life.
Meet Bruce and Janne Carter, a couple with a strong academic background, something which undoubtedly helped the future success of their sons, whom really looked up to both their parents. Bruce was a headmaster of various schools and holds a PhD, while Janne was a teacher at Emmanuel School.
Janne reflects on how she and Bruce were able to maintain their relationship for decades. It was built on a solid foundation of support—earning money, making an honest living, and providing a home (literal and metaphorical) so their family could flourish.
Janne said, “I believe that a successful life is built on compromise… and not to have regrets.” She notes relationships are not without their challenges, however, these are what make them stronger and more connected.
As a family, they were brought closer when one of their sons was diagnosed with cancer at age 19. Fortunately, “he got through it all,” she explains, and would get married, have two kids, and have a successful career.
Janne also reflected on the issues that have been going on with her husband’s health for 10 years. She says they “…care about each other,” and they “…lived a life together,” and this beautiful investement in one another makes the challenges all the more meaningful. “We’ve been lucky to have each other,” she smiled.
We had a beautiful long chat, and a lot of this chat was something best experienced in person and is difficult to contain to words on paper.
For any young people in a relationship who are hoping to be with the love of their life for generations to come, Janne Carter gives this important advice.
“My feeling is to be kind to each other… human nature and individual personalities and everything impacts on that.”
For anyone currently in a relationship, young or old, Bruce Carter’s advice is “not to rush into it, into a relationship. Really know your partner and their families as much as possible.”
Thank you for your time Janne and Bruce Carter.
