‘We’ve been on our honeymoon for 44 years!’
Hopelessly devoted couple Genevieve and Marto’s love story is a real-life fairytale romance
You only have to take one look at the beaming faces of Queensland couple Marto and Genevieve Martin to know they’re possibly the most adoring couple you’ll ever meet.
The lovebirds, who have just celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary, have also been on honeymoon just as long
– a remarkable 16,060 days!
After travelling to Rockhampton from their home town of Melbourne as newlyweds in 1977, they never left after falling in love with the nearby Byfield Rainforest and its wondrous scenery.
“We fell in love with the place,” former nurse Genevieve tells.
“When we were on honeymoon, Genevieve popped into the hospital to enquire about nursing jobs and they said she could start the following week,” Marto, a former industrial chemist recalls.
“I then called into a research laboratory, asked about analytical work and they wanted me to start the next day!”
From that moment their honeymoon turned into a trip that would last forever. As they settled into life in Queensland, and became doting parents to two children, son Jess, now 37, and daughter, Anna, 35, the pair decided to open a resort under the canopy of the tropical forest.
“There was a 100-acre [40-hectare] plot of land on the water for sale,” says Genevieve, 65. “When we explored it and canoed across the creek, we took one look around and it was so enchanting... we knew it was for us.”
During a 10-year labour of love, Genevieve and Marto almost single-handedly created caravan and campsite facilities, built five log cabins, their home and a restaurant.
Ferns Hideaway Resort opened in 1990 and is a tranquil haven for bushwalking, canoeing, fishing and wildlife spotting. But in 2015, Cyclone Marcia ripped through the region, destroying everything in its path, including the couple’s dream.
“It was terrifying… the devastation and destruction was immense, we lost everything,” Marto, 69, says tearfully. “If it wasn’t for the community rallying to help, we’d not have coped. They stayed with us, picked us up when we were at our lowest and never left our side.”
One log and brick at a time, the couple managed to restore Ferns Hideaway to its former glory.
“You can feel the love in every single metre of our place,” says Marto. “The life we’ve built for ourselves is something we’re so proud of. We went on honeymoon, stayed on honeymoon and never looked back.”
And the heartwarming secret behind these forever honeymooners’ infectious happiness?
“Respect, commitment, kindness, courage and a sense of humour,” says Genevieve. “You need to smile and laugh every day.”
‘The life we’ve built is something we’re proud of’
The couple tell their story on My Way, which premieres Saturday, 1.30pm, Nine and 9Now.