The pair, now both aged 94, met three years before they were married while working on the railway lines in Moss Vale, NSW.

Doreen worked in the refreshment room serving passengers and troops, and Sam, who at the time was a station porter, said she caught his eye.

The grandmother of three and great-grandmother of six still giggles as she tells the story of how the love of her life first made his move to get to know her.

"My sister Daphne first introduced us and I soon found out that he liked the shows, you know of prize chooks and chickens," she said.

"If I was on duty he would call around to see if I'd like to come and see the birds after they had come back and won all the prizes.

"I liked him because he was very nice, a real gentleman. That's how it started and it has lasted all these years."

Together the pair raised three children, Robert, Heather and Sam.

Their first years were in Newcastle then, shortly after their first son Robert was born, the couple moved to Braefield, NSW, near Quirindi.

Living with a handful of neighbours in small rural towns, the Flanigans understood how essential it was to generate the community they wanted to be surrounded by.

Mr Flanigan insisted there was no secret to a long-lasting marriage – he said the pair had always taken the rough with the smooth as a team.

"We always sorted things out," he said. "Everything we did, we decided together."

Their youngest son, Sam junior, said for the past 25 years his parents had lived happily together in Kambah and he had only recently stepped in as their live-in carer.

While life moved at a slower pace now, Sam said his parents had always been active – out playing tennis together, getting involved in community clubs, associations and at church.

"Time just has flown for them," he said.

"Mum's your classic mother hen as the eldest of nine girls – she's always fussing and organising – but they've always been great mates."