It's a milestone many don't reach but on Wednesday, surrounded by their fellow neighbours at Oak Tree Retirement Village, Bathurst couple John and Lorice Wells celebrated 70 years of marriage.
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Mr and Mrs Wells were married on December 2, 1950, at St Philip's Anglican Church in Eastwood, after the two originally met at the Central railway station.
"That meeting led to two months of courting, then two years of engagement and then marriage," Mr Wells explained.
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"We've had a very, very happy marriage together."
The couple would eventually buy land at Wattle Flat, on the outskirts of Bathurst, in 1970.
For work, Mr Wells introduced Luxaflex products to Australia, while Mrs Wells got herself involved with plenty of charity, which kept her busy.
They spent time going back and forth from their Central West home to Sydney for the next 30 years before permanently settling down at Bathurst in 2000.
To mark the occasion, the couple also received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II.
"That was a big honour and a big surprise," Mr Wells admitted.
The couple also received letters and acknowledgments from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Premier Gladys Berejiklian, with Bathurst mayor Bobby Bourke on hand to present a gift from Bathurst Regional Council.
And to celebrate the major milestone, the couple enjoyed sandwiches, cake and some champagne with their Oak Tree neighbours.
They've been living at the Oak Tree Retirement Village for over a year now and have two children, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
And of course everyone wants to know the secret to a long and happy marriage, but Mr Wells believes it's quite simple.
"I do as I'm told," he laughed.
Mr and Mrs Wells plan to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with their extended family in January, 2021.
