King George V was monarch, John Curtin replaces James Scullin as leader of the Australian Labor Party and Luna Park in Sydney was officially opened.

Entertainer Johnny O'Keefe, radio personality John Laws and writer Thomas Keneally were born.

And so too were John Perry (April 19 in Pambula); Sheila Jones (July 31 in Dunolly, Victoria); John Fletcher (May 6 in Bega); Shirley McDonald (July 11, also in Dunolly); Shirley Brown (July 9 in Bega); and Valda Edwards (May 24 in Bega).

The six friends couldn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate and so called into the Magnet on Tuesday for a group photo where they were presented with a birthday cake baked and decorated by the Magnet's Sandy Huff.

Some were philosophical and believed that age is merely a state of mind.

Others thought it was just plain "terrible".

But whatever their attitude to turning 80 this year, these six friends were their for each other.

Also celebrating their 80th birthdays this year, but unable to join in on Tuesday's celebration are their friends Frank Peterson, Charlie Miles, Fred Feathers and Sister Bridget.