Love triumphs in flooded Ipswich

Kevin Prout married Dr Judith McEniery at the Glebe Road Uniting Church on Saturday.

Sarah Keayes

A TUMULTUOUS week ended in wedded bliss for a couple married at Ipswich's Glebe Road Uniting Church at the weekend.

Dr Judith McEniery and Kevin Prout were determined to tie the knot on Saturday, despite what was obviously a very hard week for their wedding plans.

After the ceremony an extremely relieved groom said he and his new wife had not forgotten about the hardship thousands of Ipswich residents were facing.

“It has been tumultuous but it is also a little bit surreal because here we are enjoying happy times while a third of Ipswich is flooded out,” Mr Prout said.

“Some of our guests actually weren't able to come because they are under water or not able to get here.

“So it's with a lot of joy and sadness that we're here.”

Dr McEniery said there was no doubt in her mind that she had to go ahead with the wedding as planned.

“The church wasn't under water and the reception wasn't under water and we were going to get married,” she said.

“We just had to be flexible in terms of arrangements – the flowers, photography, food and make-up all had to come via routes that were blocked in some way so it was a real challenge

“But it has been lovely to have seen so many people arrive from all over the place.”

The reception was held at the Ipswich Club and the happy couple leaves for their honeymoon in New Zealand this morning.