mmg.com.au

Shepparton couple Max and Thelma Williams have celebrated 60 years of marriage that has achieved plenty.

Mr Williams, 84, was a milkman and Mrs Williams, 84, worked at a nursery while they developed their printing business on Numurkah Rd.

Max and Thelma Williams sign the registry on their wedding day.

The couple also raised five children — Lorraine, Heather, Barry, Robyn and Kerry — during their busy work lives.

‘‘We achieved a lot after we started with absolutely nothing,’’ Mrs Williams said.

‘‘We both acknowledge we have been fortunate with our health and family.’’

Thelma Brown was one of four children her parents Daisy and Isaac raised at Violet Town.

Stephen Maxwell ‘‘Max’’ Williams was born at Castlemaine to Dorothy and Raymond.

His late father, who was known as George, was insurance broker after returning from World War II service.

Mr Williams moved to Shepparton from Mildura in 1940 and was an apprentice type operator at The News.

Mrs Williams arrived in Shepparton as a boarder in 1948 and worked at a florist shop.

She met her eventual husband — as a lot of Shepparton people of that era did — at a Star Theatre dance on Fryers St, which later became Star Bowl.

‘‘It was the place to go back then,’’ Mrs Williams said.

The groomsmen and bridesmaids.

The pair married at Earlston-Upotipotpon Methodist Church on October 18, 1952 and settled in Shepparton.

Mr Williams worked at the Shepparton News for 15 years, then the Kyabram Free Press before starting SM and TA Williams Printers.

They sold the business in 1996 and it became known as Willprint.

Mr Williams enjoyed playing cricket, golf and tennis when not working.

Mrs Williams said her key to a happy 60 years of marriage was sharing and understanding.

‘‘Nobody ever gets by without having an argument, but we haven’t fought much,’’ she said.

The couple has 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.