Jordan Springs residents Betty and Victor Coleman have reached an amazing milestone, celebrating their 66th Wedding Anniversary recently.

Betty who is 86, and Victor, 88 were married at St John’s Catholic Church in Riverstone in 1954. The inspirational couple have two children, Peter, and Debra, as well as 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

“Victor and I met at the School Tuckshop in Riverstone, which my Mother and Father used to own. I was 13 and Victor was 15 and he used to come in the shop to buy milkshakes. I wasn’t allowed to go out until I was 16. We had our first date then at the Sydney Royal Easter Show” explained Betty to the Jordan Springs Gazette.

The Coleman’s were unable to celebrate their wedding anniversary with family and friends this year and were in lockdown, due to COVID in April. However, they were surprised by their kindhearted friend Charmaine who made them dinner and dessert to mark the momentous occasion.

“The secret to a long and successful marriage is love. If you love that person and they love you back, you are truly blessed. We contribute a lot to being Christians. God has looked after us and we are grateful for this life” said Betty and Victor.

Their once favourite hobbies of swimming at Manly Beach, travelling overseas and around Australia have been replaced by reading for Victor and gardening for Betty.

“Life is much slower for us now, but we loved to travel in our younger years. Victor was always a hard worker. He worked for 17 years without a day off when he was at the abattoir at Homebush” reflected Betty.

When asked what they enjoy most about living in the local community (they moved to Jordan Springs 6 years ago), Betty and Victor both replied that it’s their neighbours that make it a special place.

“All our neighbours are amazing. Gail has been coming around to check up on us during COVID. This includes making some delicious handmade sweets for us. Terry and Anna regularly check up on our welfare too. Tracy and Ian assisted when I had my fall in 2018 and they helped Victor when he was in shock. Claudia and Marko are also great.

We are the oldest residents in the street and it honestly is wonderful having caring neighbours” smiled Betty.

“We have both lived a very exciting life and could not ask for more” ended Betty and Victor.