By: Lizzie Errington8th Jun 2026 9:23AMThe following comments were shared on a post on the Upper Hutt Heritage Facebook page on June 2, 2026, after the Heritage Team enquired about the name of the married couple:

Cathy Budge - "This is Elly van de Riet and Murray Buchanan's wedding. My sister Sue Ryall was a bridesmaid at this wedding and I can see my mum in this picture".

Jacqui Diggins - "Harry van de Riet (Elly's father) was a keen photographer. I used to watch him develop his own film".

Andrea Mary Bailey - "I remember Elli van der Riet at St. Joseph's Primary School. Blond hair and fair skin. She was friends with Susan Ryall and Jane Nicholls."

Trish Sharp - "Those were the days when there was a Wedding you came out of the church to usually a crowd of onlookers it was lovely".

Pene Spicer - "Andrea Mary Bailey the name rings a bell but I can't picture her. Were you also at school with us? To be fair the dog (Smokey, an alsation) mostly went to work with dad at the police station, but occasionally disappeared to do his rounds of the "Rainbow Dairy" for ice cream, the butchers for meat and on one occasion a local hairdresser to get his nails painted lol. On rainy days he sometimes appeared at the school and was dried by the nuns so he could play. I do remember chasing him around the playground one time, trying to get him home."