Last April, Maria and Dimitris Psarras celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, a rare milestone for married life, that not many have achieved.

“Six years of school and sixty years of marriage,” Maria Psarras told Neos Kosmos.

Growing up in a small village of Rhodes, called Genadi, the two childhood schoolmates lived “two houses apart,” and nurtured a bond that would eventually blossom into a lifelong relationship.

Maria recalls those innocent years with a fondness that defies the passage of time.

She remembers her husband coming to her house “as a young boy,” and playing with her brothers, before “going to school together.”

As the years went by and the two schoolmates grew up, their connection grew even greater.

However, in 1959, their paths diverged, when Dimitris, along with his family left their homeland, and embarked on a journey to seek a new life in Australia, driven by the hope for a better future, during the big wave of migration in the ’50s and ’60s.

This wave brought them to the city of Adelaide, where they would begin their new chapter.

Despite the geographical distance that separated the young couple, fate had different plans, guaranteeing that their time apart would be a short chapter in their story of shared life.

In 1961, at the age of 15, Maria and her family made their way to Melbourne.

Her mother’s siblings were then residing in Adelaide, while her father had maintained close friendships with Dimitri’s father.

Through a series of ideal coincidences and circumstances, the paths of Maria and Dimitri crossed again.

“The next year, in ’62, we went to Adelaide so my mum could see her siblings,” explains Maria to Neos Kosmos, who ended up staying with her family, in the house of her – then future – father-in-law.

Dimitris and Maria Psarras in recent times. Photo: Supplied

Maria and Dimitris got engaged in December 1962, as their lives intricately connected through what appeared to be an alignment of fate.

A year later in 1963, the couple exchanged their wedding vows, marking the beginning of a lifelong journey together.

Driven by his love for his childhood sweetheart, Dimitris made the decision to join her in Melbourne, where they have remained ever since.

Throughout their journey, the couple was blessed with the joy of raising three boys. However, their family was struck by a devastating tragedy when their eldest son, passed away.

Despite the heartache they endured, the couple found solace in the love and presence of their growing family.

They now have five grandchildren, with their youngest granddaughter now 27. Additionally, they have been blessed with five great-grandchildren, ranging in age from two to eleven.

Recently, Maria celebrated her 77th birthday, and her husband, Dimitris, is set to turn 78 years old in August.

Looking back on their lives, Maria expresses her deep gratitude for what they have accomplished. They have faced numerous trials, experienced both joy and sorrow, yet their unwavering commitment to each other has fortified their bond.

When asked about the key to their enduring relationship, she emphasizes on the virtues of patience and the ability to “communicate well” with one another. These qualities, she believes, form the foundation upon which a strong and lasting partnership can be built.