Carinity aged care homes will be full of love this Valentine's Day, as several couples celebrate their enduring marriages which have lasted half a century - or more.
Ted and Ann Ross, who live at the Carinity Brownesholme aged care home in Highfields, have been by each other's side for 63 years.
They met in Salisbury, Rhodesia - now known as Harare, Zimbabwe - back in 1963 and were married just eight months later.
Ann's brother, a piano tuner for the furniture shop at which Ted worked, made the introductions for the future couple.
Ann said Ted has always been "a shoulder to lean on".
"As I am almost ten years younger than Ted, I always liked that he was wiser and steadier than I was," she said.
The couple says friendship and trust are key to a long marriage.
"You must be friends because once the first burst of excitement fades you need to be able to share everything. Make sure your partner can trust you," Ted said.
Rodney and Dorothy Wessling have been together for 50 years. They have been partners since Rodney was 22 and Dorothy was 18.
"Some marriages wouldn't last that long," Dorothy said.
The couple met at Coorparoo in Brisbane when Rodney was visiting the area through his role as a gas worker.
"We were going with each other for a fair while before he proposed," Dorothy recalls.
Rodney proposed to Dorothy in King George Square in the mid-1970s and they later enjoyed a garden wedding.
"I asked Dot would she marry me. I had to buy two rings because someone stole the first engagement ring," Rodney said.
The Wesslings had six children - Ivy, Rebecca, Pearl, Albert, Chloe and Rodney-John - and Dorothy reckons that was the best thing about her marriage.
Rodney and Dorothy, who have nine grandchildren, now live at the Carinity Wishart Gardens aged care home in Brisbane.
