FORMER Amberley residents, Vic and Val Ashton, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on November 18.

The couple met at the local dances and married at the Congregational Church in Ipswich on November 18, 1961.

They started their married life with very little before purchasing Vic’s brother’s half-finished house in Amberley and finished building it.

Their life was kept busy working year round at their property which was set up as a dairy farm.

Overcoming great challenges, economic situations, severe drought and floods they worked together on the farm and in the community.

The family was recognised with signage to acknowledge Ashton’s corner which is adjacent from where they lived at Amberley before the State Government purchased their property to expand the RAAF base.

Val and Vic became the parents of four children and has since grown to include 10 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.

Vic’s work ethos was evident when he secured a job at the RAAF base as a civilian barman in the officer’s mess.

A gifted seamstress, Val created her daughters’ wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses which led her to design and make wedding and bridesmaid’s dresses for others.

Together they have faced some challenges.

Val was diagnosed with a chronic heart condition when she was 18 years and was not expected to live beyond her mid 40s. She is now 83.

When the couple retired, they moved to Donnybrook on the North Coast where their common interests led them to hold executive positions with the Donnybrook Sports Club.

They also volunteer for not-for-profit community groups like the Progress Association, Neighbourhood Watch and at Anzac Day services.

But their former home is not forgotten.

They explained that they … “spend their time between their place of retirement at Donnybrook and their memorable location at Amberley”.