A rising Hunter River stalled their wedding day in 1949 for one week – but the ominous tidings and a warning their marriage was doomed were proven wrong as the Bolwarra couple prepared to celebrate their 60th anniversary today.

The couple met in 1947 while working on a property near Singleton, where both grew up.

He worked with the dairy cattle; she was a nanny to the property owners’ twins and helped with the housework.

Within six months, their future was sealed.

Mr Lambert, 82, said the decision to marry wasn’t a formal one, but “just happened”.

“We just decided we were meant for each other,” he said.

“We told our boss we were leaving to get married and he said, ‘you silly buggers, it will never last’.”

Even nature appeared to be against the nuptials.

Invitations were sent for the ceremony to take place at St Andrew’s Church, Singleton, on June 18, 1949.

The couple set off to town the day before, but a flooded creek stopped their progress and, although they finally made it, floodwater delayed the wedding until June 25.

The newlyweds spent time working on properties in and around Singleton and Tamworth before eventually bringing their five children to Bolwarra in 1970.

They are now grandparents to nine children, and great grandparents to seven children, with another on the way – testimony their feelings for each other were stronger than the forces against them.