Aubrey and Evelyn Nolan still remember their wedding day like it was yesterday and say the last 60 years have crept up on them, but they would not change anything.
The couple were married at the Musselburgh Presbyterian Church on May 11, 1948, after a courtship that started when they met at an air force function in Dunedin.
Mr Nolan (82) joined the air force as a young man and remembered meeting Mrs Nolan (nee Bell) at the gathering.
"Gee, I must have thought she was all right; we're still together," he laughed.
Mrs Nolan (80) was a nurse from Awamungu farming stock while her husband, who came from a prominent Catlins sawmilling family, plied that trade after their wedding.
They lived in the Central-Lakes area for several years, helping Mr Nolan's brother run his sawmill at Gibbston while they also worked in Wanaka and Arrowtown before settling in Balclutha in 1958.
They built their own house in North Balclutha and still live there today.
In 1961, Mr Nolan established a sawmill at Kakapuaka, on the southwest outskirts of Balclutha, now known as Hollows Timber and ran that for several years.
In the years immediately after World War 2, the couple found times tough, like many other newlyweds, but believe this only strengthened their relationship.
Mr Nolan remembers his wedding as a fine, sunny day.
Rationing was still prevalent but Mrs Nolan's family managed to sneak some cream into the wedding reception.
"It was very sneaky, like the Gestapo were looking around every corner but it was nice to have it on the day," Mr Nolan said.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds caught a bus to Invercargill where they spent the next few days before heading up to Central Otago so Mr Nolan could work on his brother's sawmill.
Like every couple, they had "the odd disagreement, but that's about as far as it has ever got," Mr Nolan said.
They always did things together and involved their five children.
Family holidays were always regarded as very important too.
But Mr Nolan, who has a wicked sense of humour, said that attribute, above all others, was key.
The family gathers tonight for a celebration meal in Balclutha and Mrs Nolan was looking forward to an extra special Mother's Day tomorrow.
