Stawell's Geoff and Gwenda Dunn celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Saturday with friends and family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The couple both grew up in Stawell and lived around the corner from each other.
The duo both loved dancing - and it was the love to move their feet which brought them together.
"We first met at a bonfire night in Stawell," Mrs Dunn said.
"I remember we would meet with friends at the corner of our streets and walk down to the dances or pictures in town.
"We were about 15 when we started going to dances together - sometimes four dances a week we used to go to."
The marriage took place on February 28, 1959, at the Church of Christ in Stawell with a luncheon at the Stawell RSL.
"We had to hold off the wedding for a week because duck shooting was on," Mr Dunn said.
"Everyone was kicking up a stink telling us we couldn't interfere with duck shooting."
Mrs Dunn recalls the day went off without any problems, except a comment made on the day which she remembers and laughs about.
"I remember one Aunty overheard by Geoff's mother saying 'that marriage will never last'," she said.
"We wish they were around now to show her we are celebrating our 60th anniversary."
The wedding was followed by a honeymoon to Portland.
"It never stopped raining the whole time we were there," Mr Dunn said.
The couple has five children - Rodney, Julie and Susan; and twin boys who died at a young age.
"We have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren," Mrs Dunn said.
"We are very lucky to have such a big family."
Mr Dunn was a bricklayer and Mrs Dunn worked at the dry cleaners.
"We've had some good times and some hard times," Mr Dunn said.
"Early in the marriage when we lost our twins was a terrible time. We came through it together, stuck by each other and supported one another through the bad times."
Mr Dunn has had several medical concerns over the years.
"I've had a broken neck, open heart surgery, knee replacement, shoulder reconstructions - you name it I've had it," he said.
"But one bonus - I still have my appendix and tonsils."
Mr Dunn had an unfortunate accident working as a maintenance bricklayer at Aradale.
"That's where I did my neck in," he said.
"For almost 30 years I've been retired and enjoying life."
Mr and Mrs Dunn said a highlight of their time together was a holiday to Queensland.
"We booked a tour through the local bus company Kingston's," she said.
"We had a 'wow' of a time. It was 12 days and went all over Queensland. We have seen everything - of course it's bigger now but it was such a special trip for us."
Mr Dunn will celebrate another anniversary this year - notching up 40 years with the Stawell Fire Brigade.
"We followed the fire brigade to all the demo days," Mrs Dunn said.
"We traveled to Mildura, Swan Hill and many other places throughout Victoria."
Mr Dunn, a former footballer himself, still loves the game and has followed his son's football career and more recently his grandson's, Ben Taylor.
"I love football and we're so proud of Ben," Mr Dunn said.
"I have collected a lot of memorabilia of his achievements for him to look back on when he is older."
Mrs Dunn still volunteers at the opportunity shop two mornings a week.
"It gives me something else to do," she said.
"I love talking to people - I just love going and helping out and meeting people."
The couple chuckled when thinking about the secret to a long-lasting marriage.
"Love each other and be broke," Mr Dunn laughed.
"We've never had a lot, but we have each other and that's all we've ever needed. When you love each other, you don't need anything else".
While you’re with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure you’re up-to-date with all the news from across the Northern Grampians shire, sign up here.