ON STILL MRS WRIGHT, 70 YEARS

LARA couple Matt and Molly Wright say the secret to their 70-year marriage is to remain best friends.

When a loud sailor spotted a shy young lady at a dance in Sydney in 1946, Mr Wright knew right away she was his Mrs Wright.

Matt walked her to the bus stop that night and hugged Molly goodbye.

“Something in that moment, I can’t explain it, but I knew everything felt right,” Molly said.

Now the happy couple, who have been together for more than threequarters of their life, are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing though, especially in the beginning when Molly didn’t recognise Matt on their first date after the dance. She walked straight past Matt, who was patiently waiting for her at the railway station.

“He didn’t tell me he was in the navy, he was all dressed up in his uniform,” she said.

Twelve months later Matt was head over heels for Molly.

“He hit his head … when we were out on a boat one day,” Molly said. “He was on the floor of the boat with a concussion.

“He looked up at me and asked me to marry him before he left for the navy.”

The young lovebirds were secretly engaged without their family knowing.

After a year in the UK working in the engine room in the navy, Matt returned to marry Molly.

“I don’t know how we lasted so long without communicating, we weren’t good letter writers,” Molly said.

Three weeks after his return, on June 18, 1949, the couple married.

Matt says what started out as his motto soon became their mantra for the rest of their life together: “One life, one love.”

“It’s engraved on my wedding ring and he has always written it,” Molly added.

The pair believe the key to a successful marriage is to always remain best friends and do everything together.

“Even if it’s only peeling the vegetables with each other,” Molly said.

The couple’s proudest achievement is their family, raising two sons and watching their eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren grow up.

“We were always a very good team, everything was done together,” Molly said.

They were delighted to receive a letter from the Queen, GovernorGeneral and Prime Minister, all sending their best wishes for the milestone anniversary.