Stawell’s Leon and Pat Gibson celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with close friends at a luncheon on February 7.
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A big celebration with family and friends was hosted the following weekend.
Mr Gibson grew up on the outskirts of Stawell before moving into the township to attend school.
Mrs Gibson, nee Moore, was born in Ararat.
“Leon’s friend was seeing the girl next door to me,” Mrs Gibson said.
“And that’s how we met, I was the girl next door to the girl next door.”
Mr Gibson was a bike rider and spent time travelling backwards and forwards to Ararat.
“We were about 17 when we first met,” she said.
Celebrating 60 years of marriage is as good a time as ever to reflect on a long love story.
READ MORE: Leon Gibson wins at gun club in 2018
“We honeymooned in Mt Gambier and took a trip down the coast, which was really special,” Mrs Gibson said.
“I had hardly been out of Ararat at that time. I was 16 when I first went to Melbourne.”
The couple lived in Ararat when first married – moving to Campbell’s Bridge not long after.
“We lived out there in a little hut for six years,” Mr Gibson said.
“In metres, it was eight by four in size and we had two children there.”
The Gibsons moved into the township of Stawell so their three daughters could attend school.
Not long after moving into Stawell, the couple built their own home, where they still reside.
“We built our house 50 years ago and have been here ever since,” Mrs Gibson said.
“My kids say I’m the lighthouse – I keep everyone off the rocks and they know where to find me.”
Mr and Mrs Gibson take delight in following along their successes of their seven grandchildren.
“They are all doing well and we are so proud of them,” Mrs Gibson said.
Mrs Gibson said a key to their long marriage was if you marry someone who plays a sport, don’t get it their way.
Mr Gibson was an avid cyclist and still clay target shoots.
“We travelled all around to all the bike races and shoots,” she said.
“It really has been fantastic travelling all around and meeting people and I enjoyed it.”
The couple has spent time travelling around throughout Australia and a few overseas trips.
“I have been lucky as many farmers wives don’t get to go on too many holidays,” she said.
“I’ve made some terrific friends who we still catch up with today.”
Mr and Mrs Gibson still chuckle about their almost perfect wedding day all those years ago.
“Besides the best man being late, I think everything else went well,” Mr Gibson said.
“But that was usual for him. The bride hadn’t quite arrived yet – but he only just bet her.”
The couple still has different interests but their love for their home is something they both take comfort in with the vision to stay put for the future.
“Our house was such a palace to us after coming from our tin shed,” Mrs Gibson said.
“The longer we can stay in our house the better.”
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