The couple reflected on their 21 years of marriage ahead of Valentine’s Day which falls on Tuesday, February 14.

Paul and Ann’s story began in the early 1990s when the pair met while at university in Newcastle. Ann first caught Paul’s eye the day he arrived late to an Australian history lecture.

“All the seats near people I’d normally sit with were taken, so I thought if I was going to sit on my own I may as well sit next to someone pretty,” Paul said.

“And that was Ann.” 

A year later the pair started dating, which Paul said fell on the same night Paul Keating became the 24^th Prime Minister of Australia. 

In the first week of dating Paul recalls listening to a segment on the ABC radio station explaining to listeners how they’ll know when they’ve found ‘the one’.

At this stage Paul decided his soulmate would aspire to own a pair of left-handed scissors, a small yet important necessity of his own. Coincidentally enough, within the same week Ann unknowingly sealed her fate when she told Paul: “All I want is a pair of left-handed scissors”.

“And that was it for me,” he said. “I blame the ABC for us getting married.”

In keeping with their laid-back approach to life it was Ann – 28 years old at the time – who popped the question on Christmas eve of 1994.

“I just asked him to marry me and he said: Sure, what else are we doing. It was a good idea at the time,” she laughed.

The pair were married in the backyard of Paul’s sister’s home in Newcastle on December 2, 1995 and went on to live, work and purchase their first home in Dubbo in the following years.

Now two decades on the happily-married couple reside at their Dubbo home with their two children, Patrick and Heather.

In assessing their marriage they agreed patience and being accepting are major factors in keeping a healthy relationship.

Ann said while they have a lot of differences, they have the same views on life.

"Ann understands me, you make allowances for those particular differences,” Paul said. “We're pretty good friends.”

Ann believes the little things such as never going to bed when you’re having an argument, and daily affection have contributed to what she said has been a “charmed life”. 

“We don't really need a special day to recognise each other,” Paul said.

“But if you need a special day to remind your partner how much you love them then sure, Valentine's Day is good."