EVEN after 60 years together, Des Johnson hasn’t lost his sense of humour when it comes to his wife Jean.

“She put up with me for all that time?” he said jokingly.

The Pinaroo residents celebrated their diamond anniversary on Thursday, surrounded by friends, family and nearly half a dozen letters from politicians and royalty.

The happy couple met in Toowoomba while Des, a Roma local, was completing his electrical apprenticeship.

They met for the first time on the July 23, 1954 at the St Vincents Ball in the pavilion of the old Toowoomba Showgrounds in Lindsay St.

Even though they went to the Ball with different partners, they went to the supper together and started the beginning of their courtship, according to their daughter Debbie Freeman.

“Despite dad moving back to the family property at Hodgson in October, he would often travel to visit mum and her family in Toowoomba and she would stay with his family at Hodgson,” she said.

“Their love survived the obstacle of distance and when Jean celebrated her 21st birthday on the August 15, 1955, her father (Len Rowbotham) gave a speech and announced the engagement.”

After marrying in Toowoomba, the couple moved to Hodgson full-time and had four children – Debbie, Len, Colin and Barbara.

Debbie said while her parents were always reserved, they had hobbies and passions.

“They were quiet and reserved people but they were active in the community – mum lived for dancing and dad was big into sheep,” she said.

“He used to show his sheep across Queensland as well as Roma.

“Dad was also president of the Golf Club.”

Among the many well-wishers included Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.