Same-sex Aussie couple achieve touching dying wish in NZ

A couple whose resounding love spanned over decades have finally been able to wed.

Under a clear sky yesterday at Mitai Maori Village, Australian couple Lee Bransden and Sandra Yates said 'I do'.

Getting married was the dying wish of Ms Bransden, who is terminally ill with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has only weeks to live.

The couple have been companions for 30 years, ever since Ms Yates volunteered to pick apples on an orchard Ms Bransden managed.

The ceremony for Lee Bransden (left), who has a terminal illness, who fulfilled her dying wish on Saturday to marry her partner Sandra Yates. 16 May 2015 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker

"Lee thought it was pretty cheeky of me to say I knew all about apples because I was from Tasmania. We got along really well from the moment we met," Ms Yates said.

But at the time Ms Yates was married with young children so she and Ms Bransden resolved to being good friends.

Over the next two decades the pair were often separated due to work, but their connection stayed strong.

Ms Yates and Ms Bransden were finally able to become a couple eight years ago and have built a life together supporting each other and sharing all of life's ups and downs.

When Ms Bransden was diagnosed the couple set their sights on marriage, despite not being able to be legally married in their home country.

On April 26, a Gofundme page was set up for Ms Bransden and Ms Yates to help them get over to New Zealand to wed. Within two days, more than $10,000 had been donated.

Ms Yates said it was a dream of theirs to be married in Rotorua.

"Lee worked in Rotorua for 25 years and we both have a real affinity with Maori people and their culture so we feel very lucky to be able to be married here."

She said the support the couple received from around the world had been overwhelming.

"We received such beautiful messages of support from so many people that don't even know us.

"Getting married in Rotorua was one of the things Lee wanted to tick off her bucket list and with the support of so many generous strangers, we have been able to do that."

Ms Yates wished to thank everybody who was involved in making their wedding a reality.

She especially wanted to thank Tania Charteris and the Mitai family, Sandy from Miss Daisy, Mel, Brenda and Natalie for hair and makeup, Ms Mama Laid, the marriage celebrant Kay, guests from the media and Kerry and Judy for the wedding cake.

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said the couple's marriage highlighted the urgency of Australia adopting marriage equality.

"I think I speak for many other Australians when I congratulate Lee and Sandra on their marriage and wish them every happiness in their time left together.

"While [yesterday was a] happy day for Lee and Sandra, their marriage is a reminder that marriage equality is an urgent reform that many Australian couples and families can no longer wait for."

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