A chance dance, a determined heart, and 62 years of love – Heather and Michael’s journey proves that true love only gets stronger with time.
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate love in all its forms – the grand gestures, the quiet companionship, and the moments that make up a lifetime together. For Heather and Michael, love started with a dance, a little persistence, and a surname that took some getting used to! Now, 62 years later, they’re proof that true love can last a lifetime.
A coffee date that led to forever
Heather was working as a student nurse at the Royal Children’s Hospital when she first met Michael, a pharmaceutical student, during a night out dancing. Introduced by mutual friends, they shared a dance, and Michael wasted no time asking her out for coffee.
Heather agreed, but she wasn’t quite convinced he was ‘the one’ just yet. In fact, she even teased him about his surname – Jobling wasn’t exactly a name that won her over! But Michael was sure about her from the very start. He asked her out again, and while she wasn’t immediately interested, her friends encouraged her to give him another chance.
Persistence, fate, and a phonebook
Back in the days before mobile phones and social media, reconnecting took effort. When Heather had second thoughts, she decided to track Michael down – but there was just one problem: she didn’t have his number. Not one to be deterred, she flipped through the phonebook, calling every Jobling until she finally found him. Michael’s memorable surname came in handy!
Michael didn’t hesitate to ask her out again, and this time, Heather said yes. From that date, their friendship blossomed into something more, and before long, they were inseparable.
For Michael, again, there was never any doubt! After their first date, he told his mother that Heather was the woman he would marry. And he was right. Over six decades later, their love is still going strong, a testament to patience, persistence, and a little bit of fate.
The power of lifelong love
Stories like Heather and Michael’s remind us that love isn’t just about the big, dramatic moments – it’s about the small, everyday acts of care and devotion. And as it turns out, having a partner in our later years isn’t just good for the heart – it’s good for our health too.
Research from Australia’s Better Health Channel highlights that strong relationships can help reduce stress, boost emotional wellbeing, and even improve physical health. Studies have shown that older adults in happy relationships experience lower levels of anxiety and depression, as well as a stronger sense of purpose and community.
At Williams Landing Aged Care Residence in Melbourne and at all our residences, we understand just how important these connections are. That’s why we support couples in staying together, providing living arrangements that allow them to continue sharing their lives and making new memories. Love doesn’t have an expiry date, and our communities are designed to help couples like Heather and Michael keep enjoying life side by side.
Love, laughter, and a life well lived
Heather and Michael’s story is a reminder that love isn’t always instant, but sometimes, the best things in life take a little persistence. From a dance floor encounter to a lifetime of memories, their journey proves that love can grow stronger with time.
This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate all the couples who have built a life together, whether it started with a whirlwind romance or a slow-burning friendship. Love, in all its forms, deserves to be cherished.
To all our residents and their families – may your Valentine’s Day be filled with laughter, memories, and the people who make life special.
