The milestone was reached last week by Taree couple Norman and Val Webster.

The childhood sweethearts celebrated their special anniversary with lunch and a coffee at Club Taree, before heading home for a "nanna nap."

The two attended the same school together in Carlingford and with both families boasting a large amount of siblings, Norman had to contend with a host of Val's brothers.

They were high school sweethearts until Norman, who was in the Australian Imperial Force, went abroad for work.

"I was in the AIF and I went overseas and we drifted apart," Norman said.

"When I got back I said, 'This is it Mother, we're a team.'"

The couple married in 1950, subsequently having three children, Lynn, Leonard and John.

As it stands, they currently have six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Their years together saw the two work in various industries, including stints in hotel management, owning a newsagency, working in the timber industry, and 10 years on a dairy farm in Gloucester, before retiring in Taree in 1986.

Val, who is 88, and Norman, who is 88 in June, said the key to their long and fruitful relationship was communication and "talking things over."

"You have problems but you overcome them," said Val.

"We've had our ups and downs but we've worked our way through it."

"When you have a blue, it's a lot of fun making up," added Norman cheekily.

Norman, who affectionately refers to Val as 'Mother,' said the two had a lot to be thankful for.

"We've been blessed with good health, the good lord has smiled upon us and kept us together, that is what matters," he said.