By Goya Dmytryshchak
Altona North couple Haralambos and Despina Hatzopoulos, both 90, on Thursday (November 16) celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
The couple hail from Ano Klines, a small village in Florina, Greece. They were married in wartime and had to go to a big city to wed because of “big trouble” in the village.
Mr Hatzopoulos served in the army from 1949-51 before the couple came to Australia with their two youngest daughters in 1954.
Mr Hatzopoulos said love was the secret to a long marriage.
“I am very happy,” he said.
“I have three daughters, nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren – big family.”
The couple made Melbourne’s west their home, running a family fish and chip shop for 30 years before retiring.
