Milton was just 15 and Stella was 14.

Although the facts remain in dispute, Stella ended up in the river fully clothed, after having said only minutes before how she wished she’d brought her cozzie so she could go for a swim. Milton said it was just coincidental that he was standing close behind her.

“I slipped on a mossy log, although Milton was within pushing distance at the time! ...” Stella says. “He came to visit me the next day to see if I was all right and we have been together ever since.”

The young couple waited while Milton finished his boilermaker apprenticeship before marrying.

Their first home was in the Sydney suburb of Auburn, but that also came about through a happy accident.

“I was at the council auction with my brother,” Milton says. “As we turned to go, a fellow came up to me and asked would I like to pay for my block of land now?

“I was eating a bag of sweets during the auction and they mistook me raising my hand to my mouth for bidding!”

With little money left over, Milton purchased a secondhand shed to put on the block

“We lived in that shed for nearly two years without a floor or windows in pretty primitive conditions to say the least, plus we started raising a family.”

After moving to a more conventional house in the suburb of Wentworthville, the family continued to grow, until, all these years later, the couple’s six children have gone on to make Milton and Stella grand-parents 15 times and great grandparents also 15 times.

It’s 40 years since the couple moved to South West Rocks, where they’re well known as active players in the life of the community – Milton probably best for his contribution as a member of the Lions Club and as the unofficial Santa Claus of Rudder St.

Stella has contributed greatly to the local arts community over the years, organising the drama festival and serving on the School of Arts committee.

Guests at Saturday’s party travelled came from interstate, and in some cases from overseas, to mark what’s been a long and happy partnership for everyone.