In reality, their true story is one of ingenuity and chance-taking that has led to a life story as long as Mr Mountney's arm.

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The pair born while the second world war raged, in 1941 and 1942 respectively, in the North-East of the state where work was hard but entirely necessary.

Brian came from Winnaleah and Ellen some 15 kilometres away at Ringarooma.

Though, it was not until the pair were 15 that they finally met when Brian took Ellen to "the pictures".

"She was the prettiest girl I ever saw," Brian said.

Despite their interaction, the stars did not align for the pair and it turned out to be another 15 years before they rekindled their love, and another two years before they finally tied the knot on a marriage a long time coming.

"I never forgot her, and I never let her go the second time," Brian said.

The years in between became hazy for Brian, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease three years ago. He said doctors had told him it likely stemmed from repeat brain trauma suffered over 23 years of playing football with a few head knocks in between.

Brian said doctors believed his brain was similar to that of the late Danny Frawley who it was revealed suffered from stage two chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

For Ellen, the 17 years break between her trip to the pictures with Brian and then marrying him were filled with heartache.

She had a child, Fiona, who was forced out of her life through Tasmania's callous forced adoption practices - Ellen would not see her daughter for 42 years before Brian helped track her down, finding her in a small town near Portland in Victoria.

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Tragically, shortly after finding her again, Fiona died as a result of having Multiple Sclerosis.

Once they had gotten back together, Brian and Ellen soon realised they were soul mates and embarked on a life journey together full of twists and turns emblematic of a semi-nomadic lifestyle like 19th century settlers finding work where it is and chasing a fortune wherever it lay.

Brian became skilled in artificial insemination and travelled around Tasmania, and even into the Phillipines, utilising his skills to capitalise on strong bulls and productive cows. He was one of the pioneers of the technology in the North-East of the state and boasted an unseen at the time 78 per cent conception rate around 1960.

Together, with Brian's skills and Ellen's love and industriousness the pair interspersed seeds from the fruits of their labour across the North and North-East.

Guided by the seasons, or Brian's footballing ability, the Mountneys spent a stint at Evandale, Ross, Derby, Rosevears, George Town, Piper's River, Pioneer and the Gladstone before settling at Bridport.

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At Evandale Brian won the 1970 Esk League premiership.

At Ross the pair managed a farm.

At Gladstone the pair ran the local shop and Brian captained the local footy team to their only premierships.

At Derby the Mountneys were the first to purchase the tin mine centre free hold which Ellen then ran and managed.

For both Brian and Ellen, however, their highlight was time spent at Piper's River where, using Brian's AI skills and Ellen's instincts, they raised and trained race horses.

Despite a lifetime of memories, the race horses have left a lasting impact on the Moutneys.

"We had great success, we won the North-Esk horse of the year with Select A Scooter in 2000/2001," Brian said.

"We had another one equally as good and we took them both to Mowbray one day and they won the double.

"Probably a highlight of our career that was."

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Ellen agreed. But for both of them it is clear their highlight, like so many in a similar situation, is how they have grown their life together and ridden the highs and lows that inevitably come.

The sheer gravity of what they have taken on, and taken on together is what Ellen holds close to her heart.

"We've been everywhere and we've done everything," she said.

Two years ago Brian was told he had about eight months left to live, but through the care and love of Ellen he is still kicking on with his 80th birthday in December firmly in his sights.

Regardless of the commitment to care Ellen now has regarding Brian, the pair said they would not change anything.

"We've been through the ringer but we've enjoyed our life and we're enjoying it now," Ellen said.

"I'd never change anything."

Looking ahead Ellen is confident her and her husband can continue to reminisce about the lifetime of memories they have to fall back on, but she is certain there are still more to make.

"The future holds a lot," she said.

"I'm just going to keep my husband well and keep him going and look after him."

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