True partnerships are built on love, respect, and the space for each person to grow as an individual.

In this fourth instalment of our Valentine’s Day series,True partnerships are built on love, respect, and the space for each person to grow as an individual. In this fourth instalment of our Valentine’s Day series, Geoff and Marilyn Heinecke’s story stands out not just for its longevity but for the balance they have nurtured throughout their 51-year marriage.

Geoff and Marilyn Heinecke’s love story began in Sydney when Geoff, a country boy from Tumbarumba, visited his aunt in Bondi. Marilyn, best friends with his cousin, was just 12 when they first met. Geoff, by his own admission, was "very boring" back then, but years later, they reconnected, and their long-distance romance took off.

Geoff would travel to Sydney, taking Marilyn out for dinner in nice places – "sort of interesting," she recalls with a laugh.

Marilyn, a city girl and trained nurse, took a leap of faith, leaving Bondi for Tumbarumba after they married in 1973.

The transition was stark – she had barely been outside of Sydney before. “I was a real city girl,” Marilyn says. “Bondi, then nurse training at St Vincent’s, then suddenly Tumbarumba.”

But working at the local hospital gave her independence and a sense of belonging. She arrived at the same time as another young nurse who had married the local vet, and they formed a strong bond.

In 1976, Geoff and Marilyn moved to Kiama, drawn by family ties and the promise of a new chapter.

They don’t just tell their story – they share it, feeding off each other, finishing each other’s sentences, filling in the details.

Their partnership is built on love, laughter, and mutual respect.

Geoff continued teaching when they moved to Kiama, while Marilyn continued nursing. “I was lucky,” she says. “I could work, I could be my own person, not just Geoff’s wife.”

Geoff, ever the storyteller, fondly remembers the students who challenged him, the ones he reached with patience and humour. “Teaching is like a merry-go-round,” he says. “The same characters get on each year, just with different names.”

As they settled into life in Kiama, their family grew, and they watched their children thrive in local schools.

Their son went on to become the CEO of a Norwegian paper company, their daughter an accountant.

The next generation may not be teachers or nurses, but there is a doctor in training.

Their marriage has been filled with love, family, and adventure.

Marilyn lights up when talking about the breathtaking “Inside Passage in Alaska” tour – the glaciers, the stillness of the water, and the sheer beauty of the landscape. Geoff, on the other hand, recalls their time in Russia, fascinated by its history and culture.

They still love cruising, with a Kimberley trip planned for later this year.

After nearly 51 years together, they remain deeply connected, sharing everything from family joys to community ties. “We’ve had a wonderful life,” Marilyn says, smiling at Geoff. He grins back. “And we’re not done yet.”