TRUE love is hard to find and even harder to keep.
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But not so for Noel and Shirley Priddle, who just celebrated 60 years happily married.
The pair met when fate sat Mr Priddle next to Mrs Priddle on a double decker bus headed to church camp in their 20’s.
“I think he probably sat there because there wasn’t enough space anywhere else,” Mrs Priddle said.
“My best friend was sitting with me, I don’t know whether she was sick of talking or just tired and fell asleep but he talked to me for the rest of the trip.
“He sort of singled me out, by the end of the weekend we’d gone on a few walks together and then came back home on the bus.”
The couple were married on November 1, 1958 in a Bankstown church.
Of course, Mr Priddle asked Mrs Priddle’s father for his permission first.
“I don’t know what you would have done if he said no, we probably would have gone ahead with it anyway,” Mrs Priddle laughed.
Born on the same day, they’ve never forgotten one another’s birthday.
The secret to a long and happy marriage is ample communication, spending quality time together, sharing their faith and staying away from olive growing Mr Priddle said.
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“We’ve never argued greatly, I always just try to please, discuss things – she’s easy to talk to,” he said.
“We always try to be kind to each other, and we always say sorry to each other even if sometimes we don’t mean it,” Mrs Priddle replied.
With four daughters and nine grandchildren between them, the pair have stood by each other through all of life’s trials and triumphs.
And they’ve been inseparable ever since.