OCTOBER 1, 1949 marked the start of two journeys, that ares still going strong 70 years later.
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Vida and Richard Eather got married on that auspicious day, and Mrs Eather said the secret to a long and happy marriage was to "find someone you love" - but her husband had a different answer.
"Just hang in there," he said, with a laugh.
The pair met in Barraba, where Mr Eather was working as a teacher and his future wife was a telephonist.
Mrs Eather's sister did the "match making". She saw her future brother-in-law playing cricket with her husband, and got the pair to meet at the Saturday night dance.
"I was a good dancer back then, he was too," Mrs Eather said.
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They went to Port Macquarie for their honeymoon, which "was a big deal back in those days". But it didn't get off to a perfect start.
"The road was all gravel back then and we got the caravan bogged in the main street," Mr Eather said.
Two years after the pair married, they moved back to Mr Eather's family farm at Baan Baa, where they stayed for 62 years, before moving to Tamworth.
They celebrated their 70th anniversary with their two children, six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren at Tamworth City Bowling Club.
Not love at first sight, but one that lasted
On the exact same day in October 1949, Bill and Myra Forrester tied the knot.
Mrs Forrester said she first met her future husband at a cafe in Wollongong - but she was far from sold on him.
"He'd come in of a night time after going roller skating, but I didn't want much to do with him," she said.
"He rode a motorbike and I was brought up in a very strict household, so I didn't take to him."
About a year later, they both happened to be at a ball in Kiama.
"I decided to give him another try," Mrs Forrester said.
"I'm so glad I did. I went out with him twice and I could have married him then and there.
"I thank the Lord everyday he chose me, what I would have missed out on. He's a wonderful husband."
Mr Forrester has since traded in his motorbike - for aeroplanes, which he still flies today at the age of 93.
The pair have three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Most of them were with the happy couple over the weekend in Hallsville, where around 90 guests celebrated the anniversary.
Mrs Forrester had a simple secret to a long and happy marriage.
"Find a good husband," she said, with a laugh.
"Bill would say the secret is 'good living' with a grin."
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
