It all started with a walk through Groningen. It brought Wim and Hilly Ausma from Buitenpost to their diamond wedding anniversary, which was celebrated on Wednesday.
Wim and Hilly already knew each other from school, but only by sight. Years later, during a walk through Groningen, Wim saw a girl who looked familiar. It turned out to be Hilly Smid. She recognized him too, they started talking and the spark flew. It took five years to get married, but eventually they said yes and they moved to Buitenpost, where they had two sons. Later four grandchildren were added.
Wim started his career at the municipality of Termunten. After his military service, he went to work for the municipality of Loenen aan de Vecht. When he and Hilly moved to Buitenpost, he worked at the municipality of Achtkarspelen as head of administrative affairs, where he remained until his retirement. In his spare time he was active at Wetterskip, first on the general board and later on the executive board. He was also involved in equestrian sports and enjoyed working as an extraordinary civil servant for 30 years.
Diet kitchen
Hilly started her career as a dietitian in the diet kitchen of the Diakonessen Hospital in Groningen. When Wim worked in Loenen aan de Vecht, she found a job in Woerden to be closer to Wim. Later she was asked for a position as head of housekeeping in a nursing home in Winschoten. After marrying, she remained active in various volunteer roles. She fulfilled roles at the church and the school board, gave tours at the De Munnik museum farm and at Fogelsangh State in Veenklooster, and was also a hostess at the Kruidhof in Buitenpost for fifteen years.
Mayor Oebele Brouwer visited the couple on Wednesday to congratulate them on behalf of the municipality. Wim and Hilly celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in family circle.
