Opposites Attract: Celebrating True Love at Mercy Place Cairns (Bethlehem)

It’s fair to say that Mercy Place Cairns (Bethlehem) residents, 91-year-old John Mark and his 87-year-old wife Bernice led very different lives up until they met when they were in their late 50’s.

While he was attached to a desk throughout his working life as a tax accountant, his wife Bernice was shooting crocodiles at Cape York Peninsula, honing her golfing skills and practising her swimming and diving technique, which saw her become a celebrated champion golfer and gain several trophies for her swimming plus high board and springboard diving skills.

The couple, who moved into the not-for-profit home in November last year, met for the first time in 1990 when they were both widows and some golfing friends decided to introduce them over dinner.

“We were pretty much set up by our friends but when we met we immediately clicked and after six months we were married,” says John, who was born in Mareeba, a rural town in far north Queensland. “That six months felt like a long time, it was torture waiting for her to say yes, but eventually she did, and we’ve been together ever since.”

The couple went on to marry at St Thomas Church in Mareeba on 10th November 1990 and this year will celebrate their 31^st Valentine’s Day together, while readily admitting their happy union has centred on having shared sporting interests and always being true to each other.

“We’ve had a wonderful life together and were so fortunate to find happiness again after both being widowed and living very different lives up until the time we met,” adds John, who had three children with his first wife and now has seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, while Bernice had two daughters and now has three grandchildren.

Mercy Place Cairns (Bethlehem) Service Manager, Zubair Coovadia, says couples like Bernice and John epitomise what Valentine’s Day is all about; having true commitment and respect for each other, as well as love.

“Bernice and John’s partnership is true testament to a happy marriage,” he said. “It will be wonderful to see them celebrate Valentine’s Day; they are certainly a couple who, even after more than 30 years, love each other very much.”

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