Newspaper letter leads to a surprise meeting after 60 years

When two young girls first exchanged letters as penpals in 1949 during school holidays, they did not expect to be in touch for more than a decade, or to meet face to face 60 years later.

Broome local Mary-Ann Martin and former Perth resident Shirley Silverman were reunited last week after Ms Silverman tracked down her former penpal through the Broome Advertiser.

The story began when, as a young child staying with her grandparents in Karridale during the school holidays, Ms Silverman answered Ms Martin’s advertisement in a local paper for a penpal.

The girls wrote often and were in contact more than 10 years before losing touch. Ms Silverman decided to find her childhood friend earlier this year while writing her family history, with help from her sister Val.

After the Broome Advertiser published Ms Silverman’s letter and an old photograph in April, long-time Broome local Ms Martin identified herself as the long-lost penpal.

Ms Silverman visited Broome last month and was delighted to make contact with her old friend. The women said reuniting last week after more than 60 years was “marvellous”. Ms Martin said it was a “bit of a surprise” to be contacted by her old friend and said they naturally picked up from where they left off all those years ago.

Ms Silverman said she cherished the experience of reminiscing about their childhood and family memories, and catching up on life since they last spoke.

“When I started writing my family history, I wanted a chance to relive those happy memories,” she said. “Finding Mary-Ann was something special to me and an opportunity to relive some of my childhood.

“I’m so glad I made the effort.”

The former penpals said they would keep in touch, and do it the old fashioned way – through letter writing.

The ladies said they encouraged other former penpals to have a go at finding child hood friends, and said there was nothing more rewarding than communicating through writing.