Arthur (90) and Mavis (103) lived long, happy and productive lives at Oakley, the family farm on the Williamstown Road four kms west of Springton. Arthur William Roesler was born on 20 April 1898 at South Rhine, one of nine children of Johan Friedrich Wilhelm Roesler (known as Bill) and Maria Pauline Bertha (nee Boy, known as Bertha). Bill Roesler purchased Oakley, and moved his family to the property when Arthur was three years old. Several more children were born after the move. Arthur attended Friedensberg School at Springton then went to work on the family farm mainly producing Riesling grapes with some sheep and cattle. In 1918, his mother died prematurely of TB aged 41, at which stage Arthur’s youngest brother, Frank was only six years old.
Mavis Irene Ackland was born on 9 March 1918 to Morton Allan Ackland and Alice Maud (nee Davey). She also came from a large family of nine children. Mavis grew up on the family dairy farm at Bowhill on the River Murray. This was about 30 kms from Mannum but on the other side of the river, so in some respects quite out of the way. There being no opportunity for further education for her beyond primary school, Mavis left school at 14 and as with many other teenage girls in that era, went to work for local families helping out with young children and learning how to run a household. In the mid-1930s she worked for the Hoad family at Tungkillo and then became housekeeper for Dr and Mrs Cowling at Mt Pleasant. It was while living there that she met Arthur. 
Mavis married Arthur and went to live at Oakley when she was 22. They had three children, Claire (1941), Mary (1944) and Warren (1949). Arthur’s brother Frank who did not marry also lived with them and worked the farm. Over the years they acquired more land separate from the home farm, but nearby, one on the Mount Adam range and another along the Williamstown Road. Their son Warren is the third generation to farm at Oakley which has been in the family for well over 100 years.
Arthur originally belonged to the Lutheran church but after his marriage the family attended the Mount Pleasant and South Rhine Presbyterian churches. Both Mavis and Arthur were very involved in local sporting teams, community affairs and both Presbyterian churches. Arthur was a good sportsman, fox hunter and raconteur. He played competition tennis into his seventies and over his long career captained Springton “A” and “B” grade and Association teams.Mavis was a committee member of several clubs including Red Cross, Springton Progress Association, Springton Primary School Welfare Club, Birdwood High School Parents and Friends, and worked for pretty much anything else she could support. She also became an Elder of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church.
Arthur died at 90 on 15 August 1988. Mavis lived on at Oakley until well into her nineties. She died on 24 March 2021 shortly after her 103rd birthday.
