Dancing to a never-ending song

A BALLROOM embrace in 1946 was the beginning of more than 60 years of happiness for Moe couple Merv and Gladys Burrage.

The couple believes having similar interests such as dancing has been the key to a successful marriage.

Today the couple are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

Merv and Gladys are well known in their beloved Moe for their unwavering commitment to projects they are passionate about.

They are responsible for the establishment of events such as the Moe Jazz Festival and groups including the Gippsland Lighthorse Association and Ceremonial Regiment and the Moe and District Table Tennis Association.

But their love affair with each other started with ballroom dancing at Leggett's dance hall in Prahran, where they met while Merv lived in Melbourne.

``I saw her dancing and I thought `geez she's not a bad dancer,' and I was looking for a partner at the time,'' Merv said.

``I went and I asked her for a dance and she said `yes'.

``I asked her `would you like to become my partner and take up ballroom dancing?'. So that was the start of our 60 years.''

Merv and Gladys were dance partners for two years before they wed on 16 June 1948.

They had moved back to Moe after Merv's father William Burrage fell ill and Merv took over his duties on the Water Board.

At just 26 years-old Merv decided to start Gippsland's first dance school in Moe.

``There was nothing for the younger kids to do,'' Merv said.

``It was just after the war and it was pretty lonely for the kids so we decided we would start it up.''

The Merv Burrage School of Dancing originally ran from the old Moe Fire Brigade Hall at the corner of George and Kirk streets and later Shaw's Arcade.

``Thirty of our 60 years was tied up in the dancing,'' Merv said.