Love sparkling after 60 years

MARK and Wilma McKechnie put their longevity down to God and good luck when they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary yesterday.

Mr and Mrs McKechnie, of Hervey Bay, married on Easter Saturday 60 years ago in 1951 in a small New South Wales town.

But Mr McKechnie said his favourite memories of the wedding were hazy after all these years: “All I know is I went shooting rabbits on Good Friday and my prospective mother-in-law was not too impressed,” he said.

They settled in Hervey Bay more than 30 years ago.

The couple have operated many of Hervey Bay’s news agencies, some of which are still owned and operated by their children.

Mr McKechnie said they had never followed traditional rules such as never go to bed angry, but had one simple piece of advice for young people getting married.

“When you get married, you get married for keeps and that’s it,” he said.

“God has been good to us is all I can say.”

Mrs McKechnie said the pair had been blessed with three sons and eight grandchildren, and the youngest grandchild would turn 19 this year.

They will celebrate the milestone with a family gathering tomorrow.