“We’ve done a lot of living, it’s just gone by so quickly,” said Kay of the couple’s long story of love and friendship.

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When asked how they made it to 50 years together, Barry began by stating: “You’ve just got to live together, and share together.”

The extended Jones family gathered at Mumm’s on the Myall the following day for a celebratory breakfast and to share their story.

Barry and Kay first met on a blind date organised by mutual friends.

Although, if Barry is to be believed, Kay “wasn’t all that interested” in him at the time.

Persistence pays, as the old saying goes, and over the next few years they stayed in touch and grew to know and love each other.

Their nuptials were postponed somewhat when Barry was called up for National Service towards the end of the Vietnam War, and Kay was busy excelling through her teaching course.

By 24 August 1974 however, they were ready to tie the knot at St Thomas’ in Cardiff, with a special ring bearing a white opal – Kay’s birthstone and lucky charm.

The couple and their kids, Doug and Melanie, lived in four locales all within the Hunter region – Holmesville, a farm at Quorrobolong in the Hunter Valley, an acreage near Thornton, and, finally, a sea-change to Tea Gardens.

“Barry has always loved his fishing, but he was always an hour’s drive away from saltwater,” Kay explained.

“When we decided to move nearer the water, we came looking in Tea Gardens among other places, and found a nice house,” Barry recounted.

“When we returned a few years later, finally ready to sell our old place, the seller was ready to buy elsewhere and it was like the house was still just waiting for us.”

Kay and Barry share a love of camping and caravanning, and have travelled around Australia three times, with plenty of stories to tell of favourite destinations and good campsites under the stars.

Both Joneses joined the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association for community involvement, with Kay taking on the Treasurer role.

Both remain very active through fishing, mahjong, darts, and arts and crafts.

By Thomas O’KEEFE