Gay, Jimmy McNamara celebrate 60 years of love as Gympie Show nears

A six-decade relationship that started when two teenagers met at a show ball has not slowed even as one battles dementia.

Gay and Jimmy McNamara’s six decade relationship, started as teenagers the Gympie Show Ball, has not slowed down even in the face of the now 83-year-old’s Mr McNamara’s battle with dementia.

Six decades have passed since Gay McNamara first saw the love of her life standing on the other side of the room at the Gympie Show Ball.

Like herself, Jimmy McNamara was a teenager, but she was “in awe of how much he resembled Elvis Presley and James Dean”.

“The second I got home I asked everyone I knew who that ‘good-looking boy’ was … the rest is history,” Mrs McNamara said.

This week’s Gympie Show is yet another milestone in the couple’s six-decades long relationship, which remains strong even in the face of Mr McNamara’s fight with dementia which has forced them to live apart.

In a media release from TriCare Stafford Lakes Aged Care, where Mr McNamara receives around the clock care, Mrs McNamara said the Gympie Show and its ball were the best ways to meet young bachelors, and weed out those with two left feet.

“Jimmy (now 83) was and still is a brilliant dancer,” Mrs McNamara said.

Gay and Jimmy McNamara’s six decade relationship, started as teenagers the Gympie Show Ball, has not slowed down even in the face of the now 83-year-olds Mr McNamara’s battle with dementia.

“He has a certain charm about him – it certainly caught my attention back then and still makes me giddy to this day.

“Dancing with Jimmy brings me such joy, it’s a special thing the two of us share together.”

Mrs McNamara travels daily to see him at TriCare from her own nearby north Brisbane home.

The McNamara’s wedding day.

“I come at 8am each day and we spend a few hours together, either watching TV together, listening to music, having a cheeky dance or two, or simply just catching up,” Mrs McNamara said.

The spark remains alive and well too, with Mr McNamara insisting their first meeting be recreated every year with a dance.

“Jimmy is a ‘garbage collector’ when it comes to romantic gifts – he keeps everything,” Mrs McNamara said.

The spark remains alive and well too, with Mr McNamara insisting their first meeting be recreated every year with a dance.

“He still has a box filled with the dozens of love letters we wrote each other back in the day, insisting on passing them on to generations to come.

“The most treasured gift I ever received from Jimmy is a diamond heart-shaped necklace he and his brother chipped in and bought me for my 15 th birthday.

“I’ve worn it for the last 60 years and will continue to do so, so Jimmy is always by my side.

“We’ve had a wonderful life, spent a lot of time travelling and seeing the world.

“Being huge Elvis fans, we’ve visited Graceland and have plenty of cherished memories to look back on.”

Originally published as Gay, Jimmy McNamara celebrate 60 years of love as Gympie Show nears