September 3, 1978 AD
Father's Day at Hobart Road
Greg Lahey proposed to Pip Lahey at Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park on the morning of Father's Day, and the couple announced their engagement that afternoon at a family lunch at 19 Hobart Road. Pip's family were delighted. Some of Greg's were less certain, and the afternoon was spent explaining, again, exactly how the bride and groom were related.
Gregory Thomas Lahey proposed to Philippa Rose Lahey at Russell Falls in Mount Field National Park, early on a cold Sunday morning, two and a half years after their first date and three and a half after they had first sat together on the bus. He was twenty-three and a year into his position with the Department of Public Works. She was twenty, nine months into child protection work with the Department of Community Welfare, and still living at home.
Greg had asked Patrick Lahey's permission a fortnight earlier, in the garden at 19 Hobart Road. Patrick had given it readily and asked only that he not make Pip wait too long for an answer to anything. Pip did not make Greg wait. She said yes before he had finished asking, and then she told him she wanted a long engagement. Her first year in child protection had been harder than she had admitted to anyone, and she wanted to be steadier in the work before she took on a marriage as well. Greg agreed. They walked back down the track to the car with the ring in his pocket because her hands were too cold to wear it.
The engagement was announced that afternoon at a Father's Day lunch at 19 Hobart Road. Patrick and Jane Lahey hosted. Greg's parents, Thomas and Margaret, came with several of his siblings, including his youngest sister Linda, who had guessed what was coming and told no one. Pip's sister Fiona came too. Nicholas sent his congratulations by telephone that evening, and Solomon's arrived in a card from Melbourne the following week.
Pip's family received the news with uncomplicated pleasure. Jane had expected it for months. Greg's family took slightly longer. Margaret Lahey was fond of Pip but uneasy about the shared name, and a good part of the afternoon was spent around the dining table, with Jane producing paper and a pencil, drawing out the two branches of the family to show where they divided four generations back. Thomas Lahey studied the diagram for some time and declared himself satisfied. Margaret said she was glad to have it written down. Not every Lahey relative would be persuaded as easily, and the couple knew it.
They set no date that day. Pip wore the ring to work on the Monday and took it off before her first home visit, a habit she kept until the wedding.
