Born in Taylors Arm, Henry met Betty as a young man in uniform in Sydney during the Second World War.

“My best friend, who lived around the corner in Brighton-Le-Sands, introduced me to Henry,” Betty recalls with a sparkle in her eye.

“Her family had lived with Henry’s during the Depression and she said to me that ‘I should meet this bloke’. 

“We clicked immediately and Henry started to take me out.”

The movies and dances were the order of the day for young dating couples back then.

“I think we went to the movies that first time,” Henry says.

Neither of them have any clear memory of Henry’s marriage proposal but they agree it was something they simply decided along the way.

The wedding itself was in Brighton-Le-Sands with Betty resplendent in a magnolia satin dress made by her mother.

“My bouquet was of frangipanis … it was a wonderful day, we really enjoyed ourselves.”

Stanwell Park was their honey moon destination where they swam, walked on the beach, played tennis and enjoyed being young and married.

Not long after that the couple were holidaying in the Nambucca Valley and noticed a farm for sale in Taylors Arm, not far from where Henry grew up. They bought it, arriving in January 1949, to start life as dairy farmers, Betty pregnant with their first child Keith.

“I remember it was very hot. Farming was certainly a big change for me – I loved the animals but I really didn’t know what I was getting in to,” Betty laughs.

Now all these years later, retired in Nambucca Heads, their ease with one another has not diminished.

“Betty is so good to get along with, it’s just as good now as ever … she makes me laugh,” Henry smiles.

And Betty says she wouldn’t be without Henry.

“As long as I’ve got him I’m happy.”

The couple have three children, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren, all of whom they are proud of.

They will celebrate with Thai food tonight and then have a family dinner on Saturday.