General News
8 January, 2024
Twins mark 80th birthdays
Born in Avoca in 1944 — identical twin sisters Loralee Field and Rosalie Douglas have lived their whole lives together and now looking back as they mark their 80th birthdays, they wouldn’t change a thing. The duo couldn’t even begin to guess...
Born in Avoca in 1944 — identical twin sisters Loralee Field and Rosalie Douglas have lived their whole lives together and now looking back as they mark their 80th birthdays, they wouldn’t change a thing.
The duo couldn’t even begin to guess the number of times they’ve been mistaken for one another, and given they do similar activities and even own almost identical caravans, that’s probably no surprise.
The twins, affectionately known as the Bandt twins or ‘the twinnies’ were the first twins to ever be born at the Avoca Bush Nursing Hospital and were anything but double trouble, quickly becoming one another’s best friends.
Growing up on the family farm in Redbank with older brother Maurice, Rosalie recalls that her and Loralee were largely in-separable, spending almost every waking moment together.
“We got on very well, I was a little bit more quiet than Loralee and I looked up to her a little bit I think,” she said.
“We grew up quite isolated on the farm but at least we always had each other, there was always someone to play with and spending time together is something that has always been a constant.
“Even now we see each other pretty well every weekend, we travel together and play sport with each other — it’s great.”
The sisters celebrated their milestone birthdays yesterday, surrounded by loved ones in their usual holiday spot at Port Fairy.
Going on holidays together continues a long-running history of mimicking one another, as Loralee recalls.
“No one could ever tell the difference between us when we were growing up, we were always known as ‘the twinnies’ and it’s true, we always dressed in the same clothes up until secondary school, all our dresses were made the same because it was easier,” she said.
“We turned 21 in January of 1965, Rosalie and Brian were married in February that year and of course Bruce and I got married in April the same year — we always had to do things together.”
“We both like going away and travelling in our caravans and it just so happens that our caravans are pretty well identical too, it’s quite funny.”
Reflecting on their 80 years, one of the biggest highlights for both twins is their family — with Loralee having four children and 11 grandchildren and Rosalie having three children, 10 grandchildren and one great grand daughter born just four weeks ago.
“They’re definitely a highlight,” Loralee said.
This sentiment was echoed by Rosalie, who said the grandchildren in particular keep her on her toes.
“They do make you feel younger and also sometimes older but it’s lovely,” she said.
Both have played competitive sport all their lives which the twins believe has helped them maintain and enjoy a healthy and social lifestyle. When they are not spending time with their families they keep active playing tennis, bowls, table tennis, golf, water aerobics and going for regular walks.