From the warmth of a lifelong partnership to the unconditional affection of a furry companion, love weaves its magic through our lives in countless ways.
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As Valentine’s Day approaches, Goulburn Valley locals are opening their hearts to share cherished memories of the special people and pets in their lives.
Read about their stories and experience love through the eyes of local community members.
Marlene and Adam
“My one true love is him (Adam), my carer,” Marlene said.
“He’s a real true gentleman, and he does help you no matter what you do.
“He’s always here, and he’s just one in a million.”
Maxine Hunt
“I met my partner and six weeks later, I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
“We married 18 months later.
“He has stood by my side and cares for me and helps me so much.
“He is the epitome of an amazing partner, and I can’t imagine life without him.”
Felix Walker
“When I think about love, I think of my friend Addi.
“I met her when we were 14 but we lost contact until last year at a party when we reconnected, and since then, we’ve honestly been attached at the hip.
“I’d never met someone whose soul reflected my own so perfectly.
“She’s my ride or die and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her.
“I love her dearly and I hope she knows that she brings light wherever she goes.”
Kate Walters
“I’m not really one to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but with hearts, roses and teddy bears aplenty at this time of year, it’s hard not to think about love.
“Love, in my life, as in many others’, takes many different forms.
“There’s the love I have for my family — my parents and my sister — I don’t know a world in which that love hasn’t existed, it’s been ever-present since before I can remember.
“There’s the love I have for my partner, whom I met in Nepal 17 years ago ... we only spent three months together before we returned to our home countries.
“There are so many reasons it might not have worked out and yet, here we are.
“Then there’s the love I have for our two kids — indescribable, all-encompassing, life-altering, filled with pride (and sometimes frustration), surprising and never-ending.
“And there is the love I have for my friends, old and new.
“I’m fortunate to have these loves, and so many others, in my life. I’m conscious that not everyone does.
“I hope that, regardless of the time of year, everyone can foster at least one kind of love in 2025 — the love of themselves.”
Chantel Cook
“Valentine’s Day for me is (my) brother’s birthday.
“We lost him in 2019, but we will always think about him and love and remember him.
“(He) is truly missed every day.”
Rechelle Zammit
“My partner and I worked together for probably six months. He pretty much had a crush on me immediately.
“The whole workplace knew it — I knew it.
“When I first met him, he was very shy. He was introduced to me by another co-worker ... and he kind of just stood there and did that shy nod.
“Before you know it, six months later, we had been hanging out pretty much all the time after work, non-stop.
“We had become besties.
“I had friend-zoned him for six months because I wasn’t interested in dating, because my last partner wasn’t the best.
“And then I said to him that ‘I think I’m actually interested in dating you, if you are’. And he’s like, ‘let me think about it’, because he was almost ready to give up at this point.
“He messaged me later that night.
“It was some stupid time of the night, and he’s like, ‘let’s catch up on at the bridge before work in the morning’. So we caught up at the suspension bridge behind Aquamoves.
“And that’s when he said, ‘are you still interested?’ I’m like, ‘yes, are you still interested?’ He’s like, ‘yes, well, I guess we’re dating’, and it started there.
“So we walked into work literally holding hands.”