On Valentine’s Day, Anglicare Southern Queensland is celebrating the enduring love of a very special couple, with a unique and inspiring story of companionship, respect and deep connection for one another.
Taigum residents Dennis and Lorraine (pictured) have been married for an incredible 58 years.
Dennis was a teacher in Sarina, near Mackay, when he saw “a lovely young lady” arrive at the school. Lorraine had been transferred from Ipswich to Mackay to teach and arrived not knowing anyone.
“I was a bit smitten by the young lady, I thought she was very good looking,” Dennis said.
Lorraine started attending a weekly group at the Church as a way to meet new people. Dennis was a regular at the group, and each week after the prayer, they would be given a job to complete together. By the end of the year, they were married.
Although Lorraine now lives at the retirement village next to Anglicare’s Symes Grove Residential Aged Care Home where Dennis is a resident, she visits him at least four days a week, demonstrating the unbreakable bond they continue to share.
Dennis said that after almost six decades, he still believes his wife is beautiful, every day.
“I thought she was beautiful when I first met her, and I still do. My wife is a highly intelligent woman,” he said.
The couple have always embraced each other’s individual interests, which has only strengthened their bond over the years.
“As you move along together, you are moving into all those different situations, and people bring different things to you, and you bring different things to them,” Lorraine said.
“You become more open, and it helps you understand each other more as well.”
The love between Dennis and Lorraine is a beautiful reflection of how long-term relationships evolve and grow through shared experiences, mutual respect, and a willingness to adapt to one another’s needs.
Anglicare Southern Queensland Symes Grove Facility Manager Shiju Mathew said it was wonderful to see couples such as Dennis and Lorraine celebrate a lifetime of commitment to each other this Valentine’s Day.
“Dennis and Lorraine’s love story is a true inspiration to us all. Their deep bond and commitment to each other, even after so many years of marriage, is a testament to the power of love and companionship,” Mr Mathew said.
“Lorraine’s frequent visits to Dennis are a beautiful reminder of the strength of their relationship and the importance of staying connected, no matter where life takes you.”
