Their families were friends when they were growing up and both attended Taree High School, but it wasn't until years later that they came to know each other.

Joy grew up at Comboyne and considered Al's family to be "townies" while he thought hers were "bushies," but 60 years on, the Billingham's continue to prove that opposites attract and have a good laugh about their misconceptions now.

At that time Al was working at Saxby and Colemans and he remembers Joy and her siblings staying in the car while their parents visited the Billingham home in Fotheringham Street.

"The girls would never come in," he chuckles.

Prior to her marriage, Joy worked for some time as a governess and jillaroo on 'Noonbah' station near Longreach, Queensland.

On her return to Taree, Al and Joy's interest in each other began with letter writing before visits to Comboyne followed, and the rest, as they say, is history. Al's family didn't own a car and he would have to hitch a ride with the local school bus to get to Comboyne to see his girl, a trip that would take hours in those days.

"But it was worth it," he smiles.

About a year later the young couple were married in the Church of Christ, Victoria Street followed by a wedding breakfast in the Masonic Hall.

Joy made and decorated her three-tier wedding cake herself.

She wore a beautiful, high-neck, long-sleeve satin wedding dress that her daughter Marina would later wear on her own wedding and which was modelled by her granddaughter Rowena Avent, at the anniversary celebration last week.

For their first year of marriage they lived in the flat above Billingham's shop in Victoria Street before moving next door to Al's parents in Wynter Street and then to their current home at Taree West.

Their marriage has produced four beautiful children David, Robert, Marina and Stephen and they are also proud grandparents of seven.

Life has brought them good times and sad times, but they are thankful to have always had each other and supporting families.

So what's their secret to a long life together?

"We have a deep Christian faith," says Joy, "and we've always been thankful for the great examples set for us from both sides of our family and many Christians we've known since childhood.

"Although opposites in many ways we have mutual interests and have learnt the importance of give and take in marriage."

For Al it's simple, he still remembers something said to him on his wedding day, that he has kept with him over the years.

"Marriage is like two people rowing in a boat.

"If you pull together then you'll go far, but if you pull against each other then you'll just go in circles," he says.

"You've got to work together and work hard at it."

The Billingham's milestone was celebrated with between 80 and 90 of their family and friends coming together for a special party in their honour.

"It's still hard to believe that it's been 60 years, but they've been wonderful years together and we have been very blessed," both Joy and Alwyn agree.