A COWIES Hill Park couple’s love story of 50 years is the true-life story of ‘the girl next door’. Michael and Maureen Barnes celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and share their story with us. According to the couple, their love story began when Maureen moved into the home across the road from Micheal and his four sisters.
Maureen befriended Judy, one of Michael’s sisters, and she would accompany the family to Presley Bay where Michael and his Dad would fish and the girls would tan and swim. “It it all started then, and a year later, we were married,” explained the couple.
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For the past decade, Michael and Maureen have lived in Cowies Hill Park, and their family has now expanded. They have two children and a son and daughter-in-law: Belinda married to Carlo and Ian married to Debra. They also have two grandchildren, Ethan and Ruylee.
Maureen’s beach days would continue on as their son joined the Marine Lifesaving team and represented South Africa. Michael was his daughter’s faithful comrade, following her every year to her green number.
When asked how to keep a marriage strong for 50 years, Michael said, “Support each other and learn to work together on the easy days and the hard days. I live my life by the ten commandments, and the first two are: ‘Love the Lord your God, and love your neighbour as yourself.’ You can’t go wrong if you follow Jesus.”
Echoing her husband’s sentiments, Maureen said, “It takes a lot of patience, and you need to have the will in your heart to make it work.”
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