The couple celebrated 50 years since they said 'I do' on February 7. Both born and raised in Stawell, Mr and Mrs Fenwick grew up in neighbouring houses.

Mr Fenwick worked at the Bakehouse in Stawell and as fate would have it, Mrs Fenwick, nee Carr, moved away to study nursing after high school but returned to Stawell to care for her mother.

"We dated for seven years before we got married," Mr Fenwick. "We probably went to a dance or to the pictures for our first official date but we were all friends around that area at the time."

Mr Fenwick proposed and the couple had a 12-month long engagement before their wedding day.

"My mates were getting married and they kept asking what was wrong with me," Mr Fenwick laughed. "Between them and Judi nagging me I thought I better ask her."

Mrs Fenwick said the wedding day was very hot, the February date not chosen for any reason other than it was out of the football season.

"Maurie always jokes he didn't have his good runners on that day," she chuckled. "We were married at the Presbyterian Church and went to Mildura and up to Nagambie for our honeymoon."

The couple purchased a house in Skene Street, Stawell and raised three sons, Stephen, Jason and Shaun in the town.

Mr Fenwick, a 120-game player for Stawell and former coach still enjoys going to the football.

"We still go to football most Saturdays," he said. "I still played football when we were married and we would bundle the kids to go."

Mrs Fenwick plays bowls, enjoys craft and does some volunteer work.

"You got to have your own interests as well as common interests," she said.

"We've got people coming and going all the time and there is always a cup of tea going in the house."

Mr and Mrs Fenwick spent a lot of time travelling with harness racehorses.

"I've had horses for about 40 years," he said. "We had some good times and good trips. We've been to New Zealand to watch horse racing. We took two horses over to Western Australia once and got two winners."

Mrs Fenwick said despite travelling around, they describe themselves as homebodies.

"We have been to many places in and around Australia and New Zealand five times," she said.

Sharing the secrets of a long marriage, the couple both agreed on what it takes.

"It's too easy to walk away from things now," they said. "It's commitment and you have to give and take. It's about patience and having similar interests."

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