mmg.com.au

They married at Talbot in 1972, and on Sunday a well-known couple will celebrate a milestone wedding aniversary in Seymour.

Jeffrey and Merle Hibberd will mark their 40th wedding anniversary, reflecting on a period together that has seen four children (Shelley, Kane, Natalie and Carly) and six grandchildren (Caitlin, Madeline, Aden, Brielle, Ruby and Beau) among many great memories.

The couple first met at a dance in Maryborough in 1969, with Mr Hibberd dropping his future bride home in his prized Morris 1100S.

An avid cyclist — Mr Hibberd has been involved in the sport for 48 years and has state championships to his name — his love of cycling was evident on their wedding day when, outside the Presbyterian Church, Mr Hibberd’s cyclist friends formed an arch with their bicycle wheels.

Inside the church, the bridesmaids were the bride’s sister Aileen Wiseman (now Dellar), friend Valerie Hurford and flowergirl Sue Kendon.

The best man was the groom’s brother Ted Hibberd, and the groomsman his other brother Peter Hibberd.

After brief stints at Clunes, Skipton, Lismore, Woomelang and Korong Vale, the couple settled in Seymour 27 years ago.

Mr Hibberd worked on the railways for 32 years, becoming a senior station master towards the end of his career, while Mrs Hibberd has worked as a personal care assistant with Mitchell Shire Council for the past 18 years.

Mr Hibberd is now semi-retired, but helps on a farm and tinkers with bikes. His wife loves gardening, cooking and entertaining their grandchildren.

Mr and Mrs Hibberd plan to go out for dinner to celebrate their anniversary.