... four dear acquaintances who have stayed in touch for more than 65 years met to celebrate the 70th birthday of Betty Balacco.

They are Mrs Balacco, Rena Paparella, Nonette Spadavecchia and Lina Spadavecchia who started at St Anthony’s School together when they were five, but were also neighborhood friends, all living in King Street.

Mrs Paparella, who left Port Pirie to move to Adelaide when she was nine, surprised her friends with an unexpected trip to Port Pirie on Monday.

The friends, who have never lost contact, reminisced how they would join other girls and boys living in their street for chasey, hopscotch and marbles. The women all turn 70 this year and the next celebration is for Mrs Paparella who will celebrate her 70th birthday on June 27.

The long-time friends were joined at the celebration lunch by Mrs Paparella’s sister in-law Nella Gaudio.

Among the five women there were tears of joy as they spoke about their 17 children and 34 children, accumulated over the years.

They recalled with nostalgia how they have been there through all the years and supported each other through the ups and downs in each of their lives.

– Val Rafanelli