A Bus Trip to Love, Ross and Alison’s Southern Cross Care Story

A few years ago Ross moved into Southern Cross Care’s Pooraka Retirement Living and decided to join the regular bus trips.

It was there he met Alison, who lives at Prospect Retirement Living and has been going on the bus trips since she moved in more than ten years ago.

At first Ross and Alison merely introduced themselves and had a short chat in the line while ordering their lunch.

But then love slowly blossomed.

Alison blames the fact that she broke her arm, motivating Ross to help her on each and every bus trip, however even on their second meeting the pair were accusing each other of playing ‘footsies’ under the table at lunch.

As Ross said, “The whole point in my eyes to start with was to just help Alison with her daily life and it developed into more than that.”

Both Ross and Alison live separate lives but they now spend plenty of time together, as Ross drives Alison to appointments and she stays at his house for a night or two on the weekend.

He is often Alison’s chef, chauffeur and companion.

They also text each other morning and night to check in - but they’ll never move in together.

“We will spend the rest of our lives the way we are now,” Alison said.

“I’ll never move in with Ross, this is beautiful the way it is - it suits him and it suits me.

“He loves to look after me and I love him looking after me.”

When they’re apart, Ross manages to fit in twice-weekly 8-ball competitions and weekly snooker at the local RSL, as well as fortnightly golf days - his true passion.

On the day that Ross met Alison’s oldest son, golf was the first topic of conversation.

Alison said, “They didn’t even talk to me! The two blokes all they were talking about was golf, and I thought ‘well this is good’.”

Although the couple would say they have nothing in common, they do share a sense of humour and strong family values.

Alison has four children, 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, while Ross has five children and 11 grandchildren.

Ross said, “Our families are not in one and another’s pockets but we’re here if they need us or the other way around.”

They are expecting 80 people for Alison’s upcoming 90th birthday, including all the family.

“She’s lucky it’s not on a golf day,” Ross joked.

Alison replied; “That would've been the test wouldn’t it, and I know which way he would have gone.”

The couple may even celebrate Valentine's Day this year, sharing a toast to true love in all its forms.