Gladys, 90, and Aubrey Francis, 93, of Sanctuary Point celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on March 3.

The couple met in their teens through their friendship circle. After being accompanied by their parents for some time to ensure there was ‘no shenanigans’, Gladys told Aubrey she loved him on her 16th birthday.

“We spun the bottle and I declared my love for him. I was a romantic in those days,” Gladys said.

While it was love forever more, things could have gone down a different path for the couple. Aubrey had been seeing a friend’s sister but things went south for the pair.

“We went to a picture show and I enjoyed it but she didn’t so we had a terrible argument and I said ‘bugger you’,” Aubrey said.

“And I didn’t even like him at first because he liked all the girls and they all liked him. He was very handsome though,” Gladys said.

The couple dated for two years and experienced difficult times, with Aubrey in the Air Force during WW2.

“I hated trains because they were always taking him away from me and you never knew if he’d return,” Gladys said.

During one of his leave grants from the war, Aubrey made what he describes as a ‘very hard decision’ - he sold his beloved motorbike to pay for an engagement ring.

After receiving Gladys’ father’s approval, the couple’s future almost hit a glitch when Gladys’ mother said at 18 Gladys was too young to get married. A determined Gladys wouldn’t hear it.

“I said ‘I’ll go a court order’ so she gave in,” Gladys said.

Walking home from a wrestling match one night, Aubrey got down on one knee and popped the question.

On Saturday, March 3, 1945 Gladys delivered on her promise to ‘wait for Aubrey after the war’ and the couple was married in St Aidan's Church of England in Annandale.

Gladys wore a beautiful lace dress she hired for five pounds. Twenty-one-year old Aubrey wore his WW2 Air-force Army uniform and arrived in a taxi with a dozen roses for Gladys.

“Our favourite song was ‘One Dozen Roses’ so that was the symbol,” Gladys said.

Aubrey retrained as a carpenter soon after the war and the couple welcomed their first baby, Lynette in 1946. Six years later Alan was born.

The family moved to Cooma and Aubrey worked on the Snowy Hydro scheme. Their children Sharon and Janette arrived soon after the move. Their first house had no electricity or running water but the town holds a special place in their heart.

“We got our first house and our first new car in Cooma,” Gladys said.

“We went down there with very little, just thirty shillings which is $3 in today’s world and two kids.

“We had no money but the grocery store let us pay when we got paid.”

Eventually the cold in Cooma became too much and after Aubrey suffered his seventh bout of pneumonia, the family moved to Campbelltown where they lived for 18 years.

They moved to many towns over the years but both Gladys and Aubrey agree “they left each place better than when they came.”

Aubrey was later retrenched and the couple relocated to the Shoalhaven. While waiting to build their dream house, they lived in a caravan - complete with a connected phone line.

Fortunately, Aubrey didn’t have to wait too long before he was back on the tools.

“I was on the dole for a fortnight and I just wanted a job,” he said.

“I got offered one building the retirement village in Gerringong and I travelled there every day for seven years.”

At the same time, Aubrey and Gladys began working alongside each other on the home they’ve now lived in for 37 years. Like any couple working on a building project together, there were a few lovers tiffs along the way.

“I was a brickies labourer and I walked off the job many times,” Gladys laughed.

“Aubrey used to say ‘we’ll stop and have a cup of tea’ and I’d say ‘get your own cup of tea’.”

Whilst she was Aubrey’s right hand woman on the job site, Gladys’ also held down many of her own jobs over the years. From office work to a postmistress, she tried everything - including owning and riding a motorbike.

“My attitude was always ‘i'll try’,” she said.

“I had many jobs but I would say my favourite time was raising my family.”

The couple now enjoy spending time with their children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson, born August 2016. They are also active in local probus clubs.

After being married for 72 years they have a few pearls of advice for a long and happy marriage.

“We’re always working together and talking things out,” Gladys said.

“He would never decide anything unless he put it before me first and I do the same.

“We get over the fights and don’t run away at the first one - and we still kiss goodnight every night.

“I like to put my hand out and know he’s there.”

Gladys celebrated her 90th birthday at Club Husky last year and invited everyone there that night to come back in ten years to celebrate her 100th.

“Every day I open my eyes is a good day,” she said.

And as for Aubrey’s wish for his 100th birthday?

“For my 100th I just want to be together,” he said.

“I can’t be without her.”