The third-generation Gunnedah residents will celebrate 60 years of marriage with family in Baerami on January 20.

Peter was the only son of Charles and Florence Worthington and a brother to Joan, Fay and Ariel. He attended Gunnedah Public School and Gunnedah Intermediate High School. At 15, he began a mechanical apprenticeship with the Mirows. He worked at a number of local businesses over the years including Whiteman Bros.

Delores was born in Gunnedah to Leslie and Helen Foster and was an older sister to Doug and Alan. She grew up in Tambar Springs and attended the primary school, followed by St Mary’s College Gunnedah. When she finished school, she moved into Gunnedah to work on the Gunnedah Telephone Exchange. On days off and weekends, she often travelled back to her parents’ home in Tambar Springs.

Peter and Delores first met in 1954 through mutual acquaintances but it was later that year that they first connected.

Peter said he was heading to the Club House Hotel to collect a keg of beer when he ran into Delores and some of her friends who were on their way to a football cabaret dance at the Gunnedah Town Hall.

“I’d seen Delores a few weeks before and I plucked up the courage and asked her for the first dance,” he said. 

Delores said “that was it” and they continued to see one another. Their first date following the dance was a trip to The Civic cinema, which was in Conadilly Street at the time. It was raining heavily and the water leaked through the soft top and windscreen of Peter’s Austin 7, soaking the pair on their way to the cinema. Upon arriving at the theatre, they realised Peter had left the tickets behind, so they had to set off in the soggy car once again.

“Nearly every week there were dances and we used to go to the movies quite a lot,” Delores said.

“Peter used to make a trip to Tambar Springs when I had days off. He thought it was the end of the earth,” she said.

“He packed a picnic basket.”

Peter said he’d set off in the Austin early in the morning because he thought it would take him a long time to get there.

The couple dated for four years, writing letters when Peter spent six months in Wagga Wagga with the National Service in 1956.

In February 1957, the couple travelled to Newcastle to choose an engagement ring and they tied the knot on January 18, 1958, with Delore’s cousin Anne Brady (nee Foster) as bridesmaid and Trevor Finlay as best man. The cake was made by Bert Wicks.

The reception was held in what is now known as the Smithurst Theatre. Sadly, there are few photos of the special occasion, apart from the studio shots, because the photographer’s camera did not work.

Peter and Delores lived in various residences around Gunnedah before building their home at 2 Boundary Road in 1968, which they still reside in.

“We had no money but Peter had land in Stanley Street and one day out of the blue, a man asked if he could buy it, so he did and we bought this land and built,” Delores said.

In the home, they raised six children – Louise Asfoura, Mark Worthington, Alison Moody, Andrew Worthington, Sally Jackson and Jane Worthington. The family lost Mark in 2011.

The children spent their holidays camping “everywhere and anywhere”, with a love of the outdoors still shared by the family.

In 1974, Delores and Peter started their own business, Peter Worthington Motors, selling and servicing Subarus and Volkswagons. This kept them busy until they retired in 2008.

They share a love of old cars and are part of the Gunnedah Vintage Vehicle Club. Delores said their faithful Kombi saw them camp around NSW.

“She did a lot of work, that Kombi,” Delores said.

“We went camping in our Kombi until it caught fire in Gresford.”

Peter said he thinks it was a fuel leak because when it was started up it went “whoosh” up in flames. They got insurance money for the vehicle and it was sold to a buyer who gave it a second lease of life.

“One day a man rang up out of the blue and he’d done it up beautifully,” Delores said.

The new owner even travelled to Gunnedah to show it off. The Worthingtons also own two Volkswagon Beetles, which are housed at the Gunnedah Rural Museum.

Over the years, Delores and Peter have been heavily involved in sporting and community groups including Girl Guides, Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Gunnedah Homes for the Aged committee, the Rotary Club of Gunnedah West, and junior rugby league.

The couple’s children live throughout NSW and Queensland and have gifted them with nine grandchildren, Aron, Aprille, Arielle, Erin, Bryce, Jed, William, Charlotte and Cohen.

When she reflects on 60 years of marriage to Peter, Delores says their success lies in teamwork.

“We’ve always worked together, supporting one another,” she said.