A THORNLANDS couple have counted their many blessings as they prepare to celebrate 60 years of marriage.
Long-time Redlands residents Stan and Val Goleby will mark their diamond anniversary on April 22.
The pair met when Mr Goleby was helping to build a house at Wellington Point for Mrs Goleby's sister and her future husband.
They were 18 at the time.
It was four years after Mr Goleby left school to complete a building apprenticeship.
"I worked for a local builder ... who built a number of church buildings through the district," he said.
"That evening [when Mrs Goleby's family came from Toowoomba to look at the house], Mr Goleby's family, Mrs Goleby's family and the Day family all went down to Wellington Point for tea.
"I think we were both a bit shy."
The pair soon hit it off and less than three years later, Mr Goleby went to Mrs Goleby's father to ask for her hand.
"Stan was probably scared stiff," Mrs Goleby said.
"My father could be happy or could be very gruff."
They were married at Raff Street Methodist Church, Toowoomba on April 22, 1961.
The couple did not stay in the garden city, as Mr Goleby was busy building their home on a quarter acre block with a bay view on Bloomfield Street, Cleveland.
It was to be the Goleby family home for nearly 50 years.
Mrs Goleby had worked at Palmer's Silk Store but gave up work after she was married. She continued to sew and looked after the three children.
"I enjoy sewing and even made the boys' uniforms for school," she said.
Mr Goleby joined Redland Shire Council for a decade as its first building inspector before working in real estate for 40 years.
He retired in 2013.
The pair have travelled far and wide across Australia, including Tasmania, Perth, Adelaide, the Blue Mountains and Lake Eyre, and to New Zealand.
They said some of their best times had been regular family camping trips to Noosaville.
"We always looked forward to those trips [even though] we weathered some heavy rain in the tent," Mrs Goleby said.
They have also experienced their share of hardships, losing their second son when he was eight years old.
They said their faith had carried them through difficult times.
"Count your rainbows, not your thunderstorms," Mrs Goleby said.
The couple will be celebrating their anniversary with a lunch with family in Thornlands.
They have eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren, with another on the way.
