John and Maureen from Kenthurst were just teenagers when they met at Narrabeen Beach in 1959.
Maureen O’Neill was 15 and John Burford 16 but friendship grew over the years and they married four years later at St Joseph’s Church Enfield on January 30, 1965. John was an accountant and Maureen a legal secretary and while the Burford’s married life started in Canberra they soon moved back to Sydney and settled in Kenthurst where they raised their four children – Krista, Greg, Leon and Jake.
The happy couple now have 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren (Archie 6, Koa, 2 and four-month-old Vahli) to add to their fold. The whole family gathered to celebrate the couple’s 60th Wedding Anniversary with diamond celebrations at the weekend at Stockton Beach. The couple had a romantic night out at a restaurant on their anniversary before enjoying the family celebrations.
And the secret to a long and happy partnership? Their response was: “We believe our love, patience, understanding and adaptability to each others differences and foibles. “Amongst the many cards were congratulations from King Charles and Queen Camilla plus Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other politicians. We are so appreciative to our children for organising this whole weekend,” they said.
