Rowes Bay retirees tie the knot on Valentine’s Day

Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay residents Neville and Fely have tied the knot at the retirement village on the most romantic day of the year.

Surrounded by the people they now call their family, the newly weds were joined by village residents to witness their declaration of love.

“We decided early on tying the knot and thought let’s do it in the village! We wanted a prominent day that stands out so that’s why we picked Valentine’s Day,” Neville said.

“The celebrant is the daughter of one of our friends and residents here. We had previously helped her with practice weddings for her qualifications so thought it would be perfect.

“It’s quite rewarding to get to this age in our 70s and find someone to share your life with – it’s a nice feeling!”

Neville and Fely’s paths crossed through mutual friends when they both travelled to a small farming community in Wandoan, Queensland for a birthday party.

“I have a farming friend who invited me down to his birthday party and Fely and her late husband were farmers in that same district, so she was there too.

“After we met there, we communicated for a while and she was living in Brisbane before she came up and joined me here in Townsville.”

Shortly after, the couple began their search for a new place to call home before finding their slice of paradise along Townsville’s coastline six years ago at Bolton Clarke Rowes Bay retirement village.

“He proposed to me here at the dining table in our unit – he got the ring out and kneeled down which was really nice!” Fely said.

“I think our wedding is the first at this village and I think it’s really exciting to celebrate with everyone together,” Neville said.

“This is our family now and we feel as though we are really close to a lot of people here so it just made sense to invite everyone.

“Fely’s son and granddaughter came over from Canada as well as friends from South Australia and my son, his wife and my grandson were here to celebrate with us!” he said.