The date of their nuptials was October 12, 1946.

In that year, Ben Chifley was the Prime Minister, The Overlanders, starring Chips Rafferty, was released, the bikini debuted in Paris and Tupperware was introduced in the US.

John and Gloria met through a friend, and were friends for a while before they became a couple.

They married at St Michael’s Church followed by a honeymoon at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

John and Gloria made their first home at Wollongong and have since called many places home from Canberra to the Central Coast, Tamworth and Sydney.

They have had 13 moves, many of which were dictated by business ventures including a coffee lounge, milk bar and takeaway, small supermarket and a wholesale business.

Gloria says their marriage has had highs and lows.

“The highs are lovely and we enjoy them,” she says.

“The lows are not so good but that is where the commitment comes in.

“You have to talk things through and a sense of humour helps.”

John says he can’t believe they have been married for 70 years.

They have travelled internationally including trips to Hong Kong, the US, Japan and New Zealand, as well as caravan holidays closer to home.

Conversation and commitment are keys to a successful and long marriage, Gloria says.

“The young ones these days, as soon as something goes wrong, they walk away,” she says.

“They should talk it out, not walk out.

“For people to say through their marriage they have not argued, they are telling fibs, because there has to be arguments for a marriage to work.”

John agrees they argue things out.

“We get over it and we are back to normal again,” he says.

Thinking about the other person is important.

John, 91, and 90-year-old Gloria will embrace the 70^th wedding anniversary as “their day” to spend together including lunch at Panthers Port Macquarie.

They will enjoy a family lunch to celebrate the milestone at Port City Bowling Club on October 16.

Their family includes son Terry and daughter-in-law Maree, grandchildren Brenton, Danielle and Cameron and great-grandchildren Mason, Mikaylah, Jaxon, Jhett and Millahni.

John and Gloria are residents at Port Macquarie’s Lincoln Gardens Retirement Village.