Fast forward 70 years and their love still blossoms, waking up next to one another each morning and falling asleep beside each other each and every day.

They will celebrate with a large gathering on the weekend. More than 60 people will attend including approximately 50 family members.

Gwen holds fond memories of the day they were wed by Reverend Cawte nine years after they first met in Port Macquarie.

“We were camping at the break wall in Port Macquarie when we met as teenagers,” she said. 

“Bill went home and so did I, but we kept in touch and spent more time in Port in the following years.

“We were young and free,” Bill laughed.

After nine years together, they married (Bill aged 22 and Gwen 21). They went to live in Brisbane after they wed.

Gwen was a substitute school teacher, and Bill had a truck that carted wheat, wool and other similar items.

Together they had five beautiful children - four daughters and one son who has since passed away - Coralie, Mary, Debbie, Dawn and Ken. They have 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

They wandered around for a while, in between spending several years in Walcha at their sawmill, before returning to Port Macquarie in 1969.

"There was an ice cream factory down at Kooloonbung Creek in those days and apart from fishing it was the only decent thing in the town,” Bill said.

"The key to our marriage has been love most of all, compromise and forgiveness. We have lived by that. And the real secret is to do as much together as possible.

“Eat together, work together, do anything together. We have never spent much time away from each other."

Unable to do much moving about these days, they do like to get out and about whenever possible.

"We do try and go out occasionally, and the taxi service is wonderful in the town,” Gwen said. 

“We have seen a lot of change in Port Macquarie. It was just a little fishing town when we came here, and I believe the change has been good as far as friends and climates. It's one of the best climates you will find.

"We have had a great marriage, wonderful children...it has been wonderful."

Dawn, the only one of their children to live in Port Macquarie, said her parents were amazing role models.

“Like they said, they love each other and have shown us so much love and respect,” she said.

“Growing up was great. We had a great family relationship. We were a close family. I’m married myself (for 33 years) and I have learnt lessons from mum and dad.

“Love, respect, tolerance and forgiveness. You have to do the hard yards as well, and they certainly have. They have seen an awful lot. They were and are great role models.”