Community & Business
11 March, 2026
Celebrating a lifetime of love
AFTER 60 years together, Bill and Gwen Thomas still walk hand-in-hand every afternoon, reminding us that love can last a lifetime.
The couple wed in Malanda on 5 March 1966 and celebrated the 60th anniversary of the day with their three daughters, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren last week.
For Bill and Gwen, the secret to their long and happy marriage has been all about doing things together.
“We were friends first and we have always talked with each other about everything and we do everything together,” Gwen said.
“We still walk around the block every afternoon holding hands and the neighbours say ‘here come the lovebirds’,” she laughed.
Bill and Gwen met through a Methodist Fellowship group and it “blossomed from there”.
After they were engaged, Gwen travelled to Tasmania to study midwifery and returned to Atherton to work at the hospital for a couple of years before she had the first of three daughters, Beth, in 1967. In 1969, Narelle was born, followed in 1970
by Sharon.
Bill’s work as a supermarket manager saw the family move to Malanda, Charters Towers, and Ayr before returning to Atherton where they have stayed ever since.
Although Bill is 83 years of age and Gwen is 82, the couple still give of their time to help with the breakfast club at the local high school and the second-hand thrift shop.
