In the late 1950s, the small town of Broken Hill was abuzz with excitement. The population was booming, reaching around 31,000, and the city was still buzzing after the visit of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip two years earlier. Among the milestones and celebrations, two weddings were set to take place in early 1956, bringing together two couples who would become lifelong next-door neighbors. Ron Carter and June Hamlyn, high school sweethearts who met at dance class, tied the knot in January and moved straight into the house they built together, a design Mrs. Carter picked from a Home Beautiful magazine. The following month, Mr. Carter's younger sister Lorraine married Ray Sartori, and they moved in next door. Neither couple had any idea they would end up next door to each other, which was a result of Mrs. Carter's father and Mr. Sartori's father each buying a plot of land on what was then the edge of town right next to each other. "We didn't even plan it, because Ron's father-in-law bought their block and Ray's father bought our block," Mrs. Sartori said. "It just worked out that way, we've lived together 70 years and we've never had any problems." When the siblings did discover they were next-door neighbors, they weren't particularly fazed, recalling that they were too busy building their homes. Mr. Carter was a train driver for the Silverton Tramway Company, and Mrs. Carter was taking dressmaking lessons at the local college. Two houses built from scratch Mr. Carter, now 91, recalled his wife wanted a "nice house" to move into as newlyweds. "I said 'the only way we can have a nice house is if we build it!,'" he said. "We picked out a design for the house, and I was a bit worried I would only get half a house," Mrs. Carter, also 91, said. "Lots of people were just building half a house at the time, but we moved in 12 months later." Every week the couple would buy a bag of cement for just 50 cents a bag. On the other side of the fence, the Sartoris were doing the same. With help from his father, uncle, and brother-in-law, Mr. Sartori laid the foundations for their house, before building it "brick by brick." But the Sartori house would not be done in 12 months like the Carters'. "Ray came up with the idea that we should travel first before settling down," Mrs. Sartori said. The pair went to New York and lived with Mr. Sartori's aunt for a year. They even considered emigrating across the border to Canada, but that plan was put on hold when Mrs. Sartori found out she was pregnant with the couple's first child. They returned to their block in Broken Hill and finished up their home, moving in with their eldest son, Damien. Since then, the four have been inseparable. Their combined six children grew up together. "It was good, [the children] always had someone to play with, it's a good family mix," Mrs. Carter said. "We always celebrated whatever came up, no complaints!" Even now, after all their children have left home, they still get together every Wednesday to catch up. Foundations built on trust As of 2026, the two couples have been married 70 years, and like the houses they built, their relationships have held strong. According to Mr. Carter, the cornerstone to such long-lasting relationships is trust. "You have to be able to trust each other and pool your resources, all your money goes into the one bank account," he said. "Trust each other, that is the main thing in life." Mrs. Carter agrees, adding that shared interests, but also different ones, ensure the conversation keeps flowing. "I think because we have other activities, the railway museum, the family history, I played tennis for years." She also believes having each other is good for their health. "Sometimes when you're left alone without a partner, you withdraw," Mrs. Carter said. "But the fact that we've both got partners into their 90s, that's great." For Mrs. Sartori, 89, it's all about maintaining a sense of adventure and working as a team. "You work together on the shared goals, don't have different goals," she said. While Mr. Sartori, 95, says he always knew there was just something about "us." "There was something about us, I can't explain it, but I knew it wasn't going to end, it was just going to go on and on," he said. "And it's just been like that ever since." But here's where it gets controversial... While the Carters and Sartoris have had a harmonious 70 years as neighbors, it's not always been smooth sailing. Mr. Carter recalls a time when a disagreement over a fence led to a heated argument. "We had a big fight over the fence, and I thought we might have to move," he said. "But we worked it out, and it made us stronger." And this is the part most people miss... The Carters and Sartoris' secret to a successful marriage and long-lasting friendship is simple: trust, communication, and a shared sense of adventure. So, the next time you find yourself in a disagreement with a neighbor, remember the Carters and Sartoris' story and work towards a resolution. After all, it's not always about winning the argument, but about building a stronger relationship.
