Love and support has proven to be a winning combination for long-term Moree residents, Ian and Margaret Randall, who are celebrating 60 years of wedded bliss.
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The happy couple were married at the Presbyterian Church in Drummoyne, Sydney on Saturday, March 5, 1960.
The pair, who grew up in Sydney, met when they were both working at the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney in 1957, when Margaret was 17 and Ian 19, and got together after bonding over a mutual friend.
They were engaged a year later on Ian's 21st birthday.
After they were married, they lived at Carlingford in Sydney before moving to Moree in October 1965, as a requirement of Ian's employment with the NSW public service.
It was originally thought that they would be in Moree for about three years. However, after taking up residence in Moree, they embraced the town and its people, and country life in the North West.
"We were captivated by the beautiful sky, the magnificent colours at sunset and the clear night skies with brilliant stars, all of which contributed to our decision to remain in Moree, where we have retired and are very happy," Margaret said.
Ian is now 82 and Margaret is 80.
They have three sons - Stuart, John and Graham - who were all raised and educated in Moree, and loving daughters-in-law, one grandson and four granddaughters.
Margaret said they attribute their long marriage to their love for each other, and, for them, doing everything together, despite having different interests.
"We have always encouraged each other in our individual pursuits, and been supportive of and interested in each other's attainments," she said.
Ian and Margaret say that in all of this, they acknowledge that it is God who has sustained their marriage and given them these 60 happy years together.
The pair said they planned to go out to dinner to celebrate their diamond jubilee on Thursday, March 5.