Love springs eternal for sweet Coffs Harbour couple

Two Coffs Harbour residents have tickets on one another after a revealing bus trip. See how love found a way.

Bob Virgo and Valma McLachlan found they had much in common during a day trip bus outing to South West Rocks.

Two single residents at a Coffs Harbour retirement village weren’t looking for romance when they hopped on a bus for a day trip to South West Rocks.

But love, like life, sometimes finds a way.

Valma McLachlan and Bob Virgo were near strangers to one another, even though they both lived at Ingenia Gardens.

But after sitting alongside one another for the bus journey, they discovered they had much in common, and affection blossomed.

“I never thought it (love) would happen,” Ms McLachlan, aged 83, said.

“We would always say hello at lunchtime, but we never really knew much about each other,” Valma McLachlan said.

Like Mr Virgo, 85, she had been married before until her partner passed.

“We get on very well,” Ms McLachlan said.

But for a fickle twist of fate and the random seating order on the bus trip three years’ back - their union may never have realised.

“We would always say hello at lunchtime, but we never really knew much about each other,” Ms McLachlan said.

Related: How to find love on the North Coast

“It was only after I sat beside Bob on a bus trip to South West Rocks that I got to learn more about him, and we connected on a more personal level.

“We were looking out the window the whole time, sharing our life experiences and chatting about the places and things we had seen.”

Bob Virgo and Valma McLachlan found they had much in common during a day trip bus outing to South West Rocks.

Mr Virgo said while they both retain their own separate units at the village, he and Ms McLachlan enjoy spending most nights relaxing together and watching Netflix.

And they never argue about what to watch.

“We enjoy the series, or a film,” he said.

“Val is such lovely company, and we really enjoy chatting about what’s happening on the TV.”

“Covid has been tough because you’re worried about going to the big shopping centres,” Bob Virgo said.

With Valentine’s Day falling on Monday, Mr Virgo said he and Ms McLachlan are looking forward to a big lunch in the community room at Ingenia Gardens.

“Covid has been tough because you’re worried about going to the big shopping centres,” he said.

Ingenia Gardens Coffs Harbour community manager Sandra Luke said that with a lifetime of memories and experiences, love can sometimes look a little different for older Australians.

“Our residents come from all walks of life – married, widowed, separated and single – so the idea of ‘love’ has evolved for many of them,” Ms Luke said.

“Every one of our residents has a story to share about love – finding love, giving love and even losing love.

“Bob and Val are one really sweet example of this – they spent a few hours chatting on a bus and their lives changed.”