For Ronald and Esther Collings the secret to a long and happy marriage has been communication and compromise and after 80 years together, they should know a fair bit about both.
The South Australian couple will celebrate their 80th anniversary on Friday, joining just a handful of Australians to reach the milestone.
Ronald, 103 and Esther, 102, met as teenagers in Adelaide in the 1930s.
They married in 1938 aged 23 and 22 and will mark their special day with an afternoon tea at their Goolwa nursing home.
There will be cake, lots of congratulations and a video message from Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
On Thursday the couple were also feted in federal parliament with Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and local MP Rebekha Sharkie all wishing them well.
They watched the speeches, somewhat surprised at all the attention.
"My father said 'I can't believe they're talking about me'," their son Ron told AAP.
"They didn't realise it would be such an event.
"From my point of view, my parents being spoken about by the prime minister in federal parliament, getting best wishes from all the Australian people, it's pretty amazing."
Mr Morrison described Friday's anniversary as a "very special moment for Australia" and said the happy couple were an "inspiration to every single married couple in this country".
"May God bless you both and may you have many more years of good health, love and happiness," Mr Morrison said.
Mr Shorten said reaching 80 years together was a "rare and remarkable" feat.
"In your long lives together, I'm sure you've had thousands of sparkling diamonds of happiness, countless pearls of joy and laughter," he said.
Ms Sharkie said she was looking forward to celebrating with Ronald and Esther on Friday.
"What always strikes me when I talk to couples who have been together for decades and weathered the storms of life together is what is your secret to making such a successful relationship," she said.
"And I'm told it's compromise and communication."
In their younger years, Esther was a dressmaker and Ronald a travelling salesman.
They also enjoyed seeing new places, travelling extensively around Australia as well as to Europe, India and Asia.
