"We met at a party and he rescued me because I couldn't shake off another fellow," Mrs Collison said.

"I was the knight in shining armour," Mr Collison said.

Mrs Collison said they married on May 9, 1959, and the six decades spent together blessed them with three daughters, eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.

A favourite memory for the both of them was in 1972, when Mr Collison was appointed Principal of Sturt Public school, a brand new school that was set to open in May 1973.

"There was no office yet, I worked out of Kooringal," he said. "When the school opened, I walked all the students down the street on the first day."

Another cherished memory was the present from Mr Collison to his wife.

"My father was a Welshman and 'hiraeth' means longing and yearning for home and they have it all their lives," she said.

"I was 16 when he died and before he did, he said 'I wish I could take you home so you could see'.

"Eighteen months after Noel retired, he told me 'I am going to do what your father always wanted to do and take you home' and so he did."

Mrs Collison said their marriage together can be summed up in the words "it has been 60 years of happiness, together".

"We have always done things together," she said.

"If you ask our three girls they will tell you, they have never heard us yell at each other. We have had a difference of opinion, but never had words spoken in anger."