When Ann Wunsch and Victoria Myerscough visited Pioneer Park on a trip to Griffith, they felt it was something special.
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The Sydney pair, who have been together for 19 years, promised if marriage equality were to pass they would get married in Griffith.
The dream was realised last weekend.
Ms Wunsch and Ms Myerscough have been visiting close friends in Griffith since their children were young.
“I went to university with Jenny Geddes and we’ve become good friends with her husband Ian too. I’ve been visiting her here for 35 years and we often used to take the kids up to visit Pioneer Park,” Ms Myerscough said.
Ms Wunsch can remember the day, around 15 years ago, when the pair knew they wanted to get married in Griffith.
“It would have been about 15 years ago when we were up with the kids at Pioneer Park and we just loved it,” she said.
“I’m a vintage vehicle and tractor enthusiast. We kind of said ‘one day the legislation is going to change and we’re going to be able to get married’. Let’s get married here.”
Their wait for marriage equality carried on for over a decade. When the results of the plebiscite were announced last November, the proposal came almost immediately.
“When the yes vote came in, Ann gave me a ring and said “do you want to marry me?” I said yes, of course,” Ms Myerscough said.
“About five minutes after that, I got a text from Ian (Geddes) asking if he should book the chapel up at Pioneer Park.”
“Country Australia voted yes. It makes you walk a bit taller,” Ms Wunsch said.
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Both women said they’d experienced “overwhelming support” from people in Griffith in response to their wedding, something that meant a lot.
“I’ve had absolute, unadulterated support from everyone in town around here,” Ms Myerscough said.
“We love Griffith. It’s such a unique place. It’s just really got a fantastic story.
After considering a few options, they decided Griffith was the perfect wedding destination. Around 120 guests came to town for the special occasion.
There have been plenty of hands on deck to help organise the weekend as well. Ms Wunsch joked their had been a Griffith wedding committee committed to making sure their special day went off without a hitch.
“We’ve had a whole team down here supporting us. There has basically been a Griffith branch of our wedding committee.”