Valentine’s Day is more than a fleeting moment of romance, it’s about the relationships that shape our lives, whether they be lifelong marriages, new beginnings, friendships, or the ways we express love through thoughtful gestures.

This year, The Bugle is celebrating love in all its forms with a six-part series highlighting local stories of romance, commitment, and community spirit.

Our series begins with Stan and Jenny Judd, whose love story is woven into the fabric of Kiama and Jamberoo.

Jenny is a Kiama girl through and through, while Stan moved to Jamberoo as a boy when his father bought a dairy farm on Minnamurra Falls Road.

They met in 1967 at the Illawarra Rural Youth Club, where young people from farming and non-farming backgrounds came together.

But they weren’t a couple at first. Instead, they built a friendship through dances, competitions, and events, getting to know each other without any pressure.

“We were just part of the same group, going to football balls, show dances, and rural youth competitions,” Jenny recalls. “It was a great way to really know someone before romance even entered the picture.”

It wasn’t until 1969 that they officially started dating, drawn together by a shared love of community and adventure. 

They married in 1971 at St Peter and Paul’s Church in Kiama and built their life on the family farm. 

Stan and Jenny Judd married in 1971 at St Peter and Paul’s Church in Kiama and built their life on the family farm. 

When dairy farming no longer seemed the future, Stan transitioned to the quarry industry, working his way up to manager. Jenny focused on raising their two children, growing their own vegetables, and supporting the family business.

“The real highlight of our marriage has been our family,” Jenny says. “We were blessed with two wonderful children, and now we have four beautiful grandchildren. Nothing in life could ever compare to that.”

Every second year, they took their children on long camping trips across Australia, forging unforgettable memories.

“We packed up the Land Rover and just went,” Jenny says. “Cape York, the Flinders Ranges, out to the desert. We wanted our kids to see beyond their backyard.”

Their children inherited their love of adventure. After finishing their education, both headed overseas on working holidays before settling in Queensland.

Veronica and her two daughters now live in Brisbane, while Adrian and his family are on the Tweed Coast. “We do a lot of flying and driving back and forth,” Jenny says. “At least they’re in the same direction!”

Despite the distance, they remain a close family. “We meet up regularly, and all our grandchildren have had holidays with us,”

Jenny says. “That’s been such a wonderful way to bond. They’re aged from 14 to 19, all so individual, all a treasure. We are very blessed.”

“We were always a team,” Stan adds. “And we still are. That’s the key.”