Wedding day July 13, 1996
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Leisha and Greg Bickley were childhood sweethearts. “We met at Sunday school,” Greg says. “We used to chase each other around the church yard.”
Throughout their primary school years in Goornong, Leisha says they developed a strong affection for each other as well as a strong sense of competition, both sporting and academic.
They took piano lessons together and Greg would write love letters in the back of Leisha’s manuscript book.
“I don’t know how effective it was, because she was more interested in the city boys with their brand-new BMX bikes,” Greg says.
After different high schools and then university they stayed in touch. “We were always interested in what the other was doing, and who we were seeing,” Leisha says.
“We were invited to a 21st birthday at the Goornong hall. We were both seeing other people, but when Greg arrived we immediately sought each other out. My boyfriend said later, ‘Who the hell was that?’!”
Eventually it all fell into place. “I started working back in Bendigo,” Leisha explains, “and Greg had moved back from Melbourne to work with his family, driving trucks. We were both single. We went to the movies for our first date to see Braveheart and that was it!”
Within six months they were engaged, and six months later they were married in St George's in Goornong on July 13, 1996. “It rained for three weeks leading up to the wedding day, and then on the morning of the 13th the sun came out and it was a beautiful day,” Greg says.
“It was in the middle of winter because we were going to England for our honeymoon,” Leisha adds. “We had a great time in the UK.”
Leisha and Greg have been married for eighteen years and have lived in the same house since. “We love Bendigo,” they say.
“In 2000 we had our daughter Paris, then Felix in 2002.”
Nine years later, Blake was born. “No, he wasn’t an accident!” Leisha says. “We had many discussions about whether or not to have a third. We are so glad we did.”
Both agree staying together has no secret formula. “I think it’s being able to talk to each other, and being honest,” Leisha says.
“It’s the simple things that often mean the most, like having a cup of tea together and just chatting about things, whether it be about the kids or the grocery shopping or even politics!” Greg adds.
“There’s a tendency to over-complicate our lives and this can place a lot of stress on relationships,” Leisha says. “We do find great enjoyment out of the simplest of things.”