Reaching 70 years of marriage is a milestone few experience, but for Christos and Nicolista Bakopoulos, known to many as Chris and Nicky, the occasion is simply another chapter in a life lived side by side.
The couple, both now 88, celebrated their platinum anniversary surrounded by family, friends, and fellow residents at Scalabrini Bexley, where they now live.
Their story is as much about migration and resilience as it is about love. Born in neighbouring regions of Greece in 1937, Chris from Kardamas and Nicky from Patra, the pair first met in 1954 following a devastating earthquake. What could have been a brief encounter became the start of a bond that endured distance, hardship and new beginnings.
By July that same year they were engaged, and on 30 October 1954 they married in a modest ceremony. Only days after the wedding, Chris left for Australia to begin setting up their life. Nicky stayed behind, and the young couple spent more than two years apart, communicating through weekly handwritten letters. Chris worked as a barber and later at the steelworks in Port Kembla, saving whatever he could. In 1957 Nicky made the journey to Australia. She became unwell on the way, but the reunion that followed was joyful and long awaited.
Together they raised three daughters, Maria, Shirley and Stella. They worked hard, first running barber shops in Five Dock before taking on a milk bar, eventually settling in Bexley in 1977. Chris continued to work in barbering and later real estate, while Nicky built a career in hospital services. Their life was not without sacrifice, but it was grounded in family and faith.
After nearly five decades in their family home, the couple now live in the Toscana household at Scalabrini Bexley. Their family says they are at peace knowing Chris and Nicky are surrounded by supportive staff and opportunities to stay socially connected.
“Scalabrini has become a wonderful new home for Mum and Dad,” their daughter Maria said. “They have always been so devoted to each other and to our family. It is comforting to know they are in a place that values their dignity, their heritage, and their wellbeing.”
Reflecting on the principles that have shaped their life together, Chris offered a simple lesson.
“Anything that you expect other people to do for you, you must be prepared to do first. Love so you can be loved. Respect so you can be respected. Help so you can be helped.”
Seventy years on, that philosophy remains central to who they are. Their story stands as a reminder that love, when nurtured with patience and respect, can endure across oceans, decades and life’s many changes.
