While most of the world is busy chasing new sparks this Valentine’s Day, Elaine and Mervyn are celebrating a flame that has burned steady for seven decades. This year marks their 70th wedding anniversary, a Platinum milestone that began before many of us were even born. In a small rural town of Macksville 90 years ago, a local midwife made two separate house calls in the same year. Little did she know she was delivering a future husband and wife. Elaine and Mervyn grew up in the same community, but it wasn’t until a local dance years later that their fates finally entwined. "I saw him across

While most of the world is busy chasing new sparks this Valentine’s Day, Elaine and Mervyn are celebrating a flame that has burned steady for seven decades. This year marks their 70th wedding anniversary, a Platinum milestone that began before many of us were even born. In a small rural town of Macksville 90 years ago, a local midwife made two separate house calls in the same year. Little did she know she was delivering a future husband and wife. Elaine and Mervyn grew up in the same community, but it wasn’t until a local dance years later that their fates finally entwined. "I saw him across the hall," Elaine laughs, sitting in the lounge of their Macksville care home. "He looked handsome, but there was a catch."

Mervyn and Elaine

The secret to a 70 year marriage, according to the couple, isn’t grand romantic gestures, it’s the ability to laugh when things go wrong. Elaine recalls their first meeting at the dance with a mischievous glint in her eye. "He asked me to dance, and I almost said no! You see, Mervyn didn't have his teeth in that night. I told my friend, 'I can't dance with a man with no teeth!' But he was persistent, and eventually, I decided I liked his spirit more than his smile." Mervyn, now 90, just chuckles and squeezes her hand. "I got the teeth eventually," he says. "But I already had the girl." The couple is part of a rare group at their residence, today, the facility is celebrating six couples who have reached massive milestones, totaling 341 years of combined marriage. The home’s hallway is lined with photos of the couples from the 1950s and 60s images of young love that have survived the transition into the digital age. For Elaine and Mervyn, the secret to staying together through seven decades of global change is simple, just dancing together. When asked what advice they would give to newlyweds in 2026, Mervyn kept it brief: "Never go to sleep cross. Just pat her on the hand and say 'goodnight'." Elaine adds, "And keep dancing. Even if you’re just shuffling in the kitchen. It keeps your hearts close."

A little more informed. A little more connected.