LOVESTRUCK
TRUE
romance WORDS ROXANNE MCCARTY-O’KANE
A SHARED EASY-GOING nature and dedication to family and friends created an instant connection between Natalie Young and Paul Gorton when they met at a Brisbane pub in August 2016. Paul, an MRI specialist who lived on the Gold Coast, was up for work in Brisbane when he met Natalie, a teacher. They instantly hit it off and began taking turns travelling between their respective cities to go on dates. The couple decided to move in together in Coolum so they could be closer to the ocean and have more opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors together. Natalie says they have a shared passion for any form of game and competition and would turn a leisurely mountain hike into a race once the end of the track approached. They would also never miss an opportunity to wager a bet with one another. In keeping with this, Paul proposed to Natalie in September 2017 with an elaborate treasure hunt with 15 clues at the private Mount Tamborine cottage they had stayed at a year beforehand. “I was off the scent and had no idea and just thought it was kind of like an excuse to go back there because we both loved it,” Natalie says. “He had me travelling all over the property looking for clues and the 15th clue was a bottle of my favourite Veuve in front of the fire. I thought it was a sweet anniversary gift. “But then he said he’d heard of this game and had ordered it online and asked me if I wanted to play it. He brought out this bubble-wrapped box and inside was a wooden box he’d had made. 62
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Natali e and Pa Young ul G Moolo orton, olaba
SALT
29/11/2018 8:35:30 AM
