Forty years ago love-struck Sharon jumped on a plane, mailed her wedding dress to Australia and flew halfway around the world to marry the man of her dreams – Bob Hannon.

On August 31, 1976 at the Ballarat Town Hall Sharon became Mrs Hannon. Aside from Bob she didn’t know anyone at her ceremony and was forced to wear a makeshift dress because of dock strikes. 

On Wednesday Ohio couple Sharon and husband Bob are back in Ballarat celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary.

“We met at university, and I came to Australia on a fiancee visa,” Mrs Hannon said.

“In those days you had 24 hours to get married or else you would lose it (your visa),” Mrs Hannon said.

“Bob was a teacher at Ballarat North Technical College … I taught at Loreto.

“They were recruiting teachers from the United States and we both applied.” 

The couple were wed in a decorative room at the Town Hall by well known town clerk Ian Smith.

They spent two years in Ballarat – a place they still call their second home. 

When Mrs Hannon fell pregnant with her eldest child the couple returned to Sugarcreek, Ohio where they still live today.

“We can’t believe it’s been 40 years,” Mr Hannon said.

“We love one another. She is a wonderful friend, she is a great cook – anything Italian.” 

The couple, who have two sons, will celebrate their anniversary with a counter meal at their favourite pub The Red Lion.

Their celebrant Mr Smith told The Courier he married more than 1400 people at the Town Hall and some people even had their second and third marriages performed by him. 

“It was providing a service to the community, it was enabling people who felt uncomfortable having a religious ceremony – to be married,” Mr Smith said.

“I got a great deal of pleasure out of it and I married two of my own daughters.” 

The Hannon’s said the secret to a happy marriage was easy – just don’t sweat the small stuff.