Neville Grunske and Fely Dawes tied the knot on Valentine’s Day at Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay Retirement Village in Townsville, Queensland, surrounded by friends, family, and their village community.
The couple decided to get married in their retirement village to make the day even more special. “We wanted to pick a meaningful date, and Valentine’s Day was perfect,” Neville said. “It’s such a special day for love.”
The celebrant was a familiar face – the daughter of a close friend and fellow resident. “We had helped her practice for her celebrant qualifications before, so it felt like a natural choice for her to officiate,” Neville added.
For Neville and Fely, finding love later in life is something to cherish. “It’s such a rewarding feeling to find someone to share your life with at this stage in our 70s,” Neville said.
Their love story began at a birthday party in Wandoan, a small farming community in Queensland. “I was invited to the party by a farming friend, and Fely was there with her late husband. That’s how we met,” Neville explained. They stayed in touch, and Fely eventually moved from Brisbane to join Neville in Townsville.
Six years ago, they found their new home at Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay Retirement Village, where they settled into life together.
Fely fondly remembers Neville’s proposal. “He proposed to me at the dining table in our unit – he got down on one knee, and it was so sweet,” she said.
Their wedding was the first held at the village, and it felt like the perfect place to celebrate. “We feel like this is our family now, and we’re close to so many people here, so inviting everyone to our wedding just made sense,” Neville shared.
The couple’s loved ones travelled far and wide to celebrate with them, including Fely’s son and granddaughter, who flew in from Canada, as well as friends from South Australia and Neville’s family from across the country.
Neville and Fely’s love story is a beautiful reminder that there are wonderful, interesting people in retirement villages – and perhaps even your future partner.