Mercy Place resident Dawn Freeman and husband Graham celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary

Graham and Dawn Freeman met in high school in Hamilton when they were just 16 and married at the age of 21.

According to the pair, their engagement wasn't exactly embraced.

"We came home one day and told everyone we were getting married," Mr Freeman said.

"Everybody thought we were just doing it because Dawn was pregnant (which she wasn't). Her mother was disgusted."

But the announcement was eventually welcomed, with the occasion proving to be a family affair.

"Graham's uncle Peter made the wedding cake, while my own uncle married us," she said.

"It was fantastic."

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While the COVID pandemic had been difficult for the long-time couple who currently live apart, the two said they'd be joined tonight by some family members they hadn't seen in close to two years.

"We're at the age now where we can't live together and we know that, but he's lonely and so am I," Ms Freeman said.

"But he can come here every day and he's got a compassionate pass so can stay for however long he wants. We talk for hours.

"Tonight at 6pm we'll have 15 of our immediate family including all our grandchildren who will join us for dinner at the bowls club to mark the day. We booked a table.

"The girls at Mercy Place also helped to organise what we wanted to do in the afternoon and did their best with the current COVID situation so we were very thankful."

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