The attraction was mutual and he escorted her home in the bus.

Three months later they decided to get married, which they did in May 1950, and last Sunday Moira and Jim Collins celebrated their 65th anniversary.

Moira said that when she met Jim at the dance, the attraction was mutual and she was delighted he asked to escort her home on the bus to Campsie, which was also on his route to Bexley.

As the Teachers' College was on the same campus as the university, Jim and Moira continued their courtship mainly at the cafeteria over milkshakes, and it took only three months for them to decide that their partnership should be life-long.

The actual engagement took a little longer as it was in those years that the Protestant-Catholic rift was at its height and Moira was Catholic and Jim wasn't.

The wedding ceremony was held at St Mel's Church in Campsie and at the 65th anniversary party the wedding photos took pride of place with a crowd of friends and family around the happy couple.

Jim was teaching at Bega High School (then at Bega Primary School) and so Moira, as a primary school teacher, tried to get an appointment in the town.

At first, all the Education Department could offer was a teacher’s role at Cobargo Primary School and Jim used to catch the bus out there after class.

Then Moira was given the opportunity to teach in Bega and so they moved into town.

They had to live in a variety of bed and breakfast accommodation for some years until they could save up to buy some land at Daisy Hill, Springvale.

With the permission of the owner, Jim cut down trees on Dr George Mountain and set up a timber mill at Reedy Swamp.

At first at Daisy Hill they lived in a two-room garage, but slowly Jim managed to build a home from the timber he'd felled.

With the births of Mike, Jenny, Beth and Nicky, Moira left teaching and Jim stayed on, but also started a dairy at Springvale.

They have now retired to Bermagui, if the word “retired” could ever be applied to them.

During their years in Bega they have arguably done more than any other couple in improving the lives of those in the Valley.

Both were involved in dairy farming politics, Moira more so through the  NSW Primary Producers Union in 1961, Dairy Farmers Association, Dairy Industry Conference and  the Bega Dairy Farmers' Action  group.

Moira was a Mumbulla Shire councillor and was chairwoman and vice-chairwoman of the Bega District Hospital Board and over the years was a tremendous advocate for health in the Valley.

She was the Bega Valley Citizen of the Year in 2010.

Both were environmental advocates, but it was Jim who took the lead there, especially in the movement opposing woodchipping native forests.

He was also on the Bournda Trust and one of the founders of Tulgeen.

Jim was awarded an Order of Australia for his work with the Bega Valley Advocates for Timor Leste.

Both he and Moira were among the founders and they have given both their time and their savings to aid the people of Natabora, and for that they are much loved by the Timorese.

At the anniversary party on Sunday, friends and family congratulated the couple of 65 years of  married life well lived.