Kevin (86) and Brida (82) Dowling were officially made life members of the Dunedin Returned and Services Association at the function at Ophir's Blacks Hotel, which had been disguised as the RSA's annual Christmas party.
More than 40 people from throughout Otago attended the celebration, including Mr and Mrs Dowling's son, their only grandchild, friends, extended family, and fellow RSA members.
Dunedin RSA president Jenepher Glover presented life memberships to the couple, after which Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson publicly acknowledged their many contributions to the community.
"Kevin and Brida are held in great esteem by RSA members and the rest of the community . . . they have stood above the rest and held the banner of the RSA proudly, for which we are grateful. It's because of people like Mr and Mrs Dowling the RSA has credibility," Mrs Glover said.
Others made personal tributes to both Mr and Mrs Dowling, during a specially prepared meal reminiscent of wartime fare.
While surrounded by camouflage netting, the group dined on foods available as rations during the war.
The couple moved to Ophir in 1957 to run Blacks Hotel, and Mr Dowling started delivering the Otago Daily Times to the community's residents in 1972, despite having machine gun bullets embedded in his hip from his time spent serving New Zealand in World War 2.
Now in a wheelchair, his legs having been amputated this winter, Mr Dowling is no longer delivering newspapers, but manages to pop over the road to his former pub occasionally.
