Couple still cherish union
KEVIN and Audrey Toft's love affair would give most Hollywood romance movies a run for their money.
Yesterday the Bli Bli couple celebrated 65 years of marriage but they actually met when they were much younger - as primary school students in Gippsland, Victoria.
They lost touch, but in true Hollywood fashion their paths crossed again a few years later.
By then, Kevin was in the air force and was hitching a ride on a truck to get back to his base when he waved to his childhood sweetheart, as she rode past on her bike.
Three weeks later, when he was home on leave, he bumped into Audrey again at a dance.
"That was it," Kevin, now aged 86, said looking lovingly at his wife.
"We had every dance from then."
"He was a lovely dancer," Audrey, now 83, added.
Sitting in their home of 26 years, photographs of their three children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren lining the walls, the couple were soon lost in the memories.
Audrey reveals that even in primary school, Kevin would write her love notes and she would read them secretly and hide them in her desk.
"They were such beautiful and honest words," she said.
"He is my darling, and always has been."
At that, Kevin bursts into a rendition of My Darling Clementine, bringing a huge smile to Audrey's face.
Like many of history's great love stories, this one has some heartache.
Kevin has kidney disease and in February he had to be moved into a nursing home because Audrey could not care for him any longer.
She said that it was a strange feeling living by herself, even though she picks Kevin up every day and brings him home for a few hours.
"I imagine I feel like a widow would, but I'm not," she said.
"But I thank God my darling is still with me."
Kevin said what he admired most about his wife was she was "so full of goodness", "kind and gentle" and "loving".
Audrey said she loved Kevin's "lovely disposition" and the fact he was a "gentleman".
She said while she never imagined they would be married for so many years, she always knew he was the man for her.
"It is amazing how the years go by - you lose track of time," she said.
"We have grown up together and are a part of each other.
"At our age, every day is a bonus and a blessing."
"He is my darling, and always has been."
