Dancing on a rock in Dubrovnik

In two thousand ten, Vinko Anthony was swimming in Dubrovnik, Croatia when he saw Andrea Zara dancing naked on a rock with no music.

“Oh my God.”

Twenty thousand people, one chance

Vinko went to a summer festival in Dubrovnik with twenty thousand people, hoping to see Andrea again. At the first bar, he turned his head and there was Andrea in a blue shirt.

Two thousand seven hundred forty-three emails

After Croatia, Vinko and Andrea emailed for three months. There were two thousand seven hundred forty-three emails between them. Vinko photocopied them all to show immigration officials as proof of their relationship.

Married in swimsuits in the heat

In January two thousand eleven, Andrea came to Australia. After visiting the immigration office, they went to the births and marriages office wearing swimsuits in forty-degree Sydney heat and got married in the waiting room.

A secret Vinko carried alone

Vinko had HIV for many years before meeting Andrea.He spoke to two close friends about telling Andrea and wrote many unsent letters.

Five years of dishonesty

Vinko kept the secret for five years.A day became a week, a week became a month, a month became a year, then two years, then five.The relationship was under threat because of the dishonesty.

Pills left on the bathroom bench

Vinko left his HIV medication on the bathroom bench where Andrea would see it.Andrea noticed the pills had changed, checked the box, and found antiviral pills for HIV.

Andrea's research changed everything

Andrea did his due diligence, researching HIV, getting tested himself, and speaking with a doctor. He had grown up thinking HIV was scary, but understanding what the diagnosis actually meant changed his perspective completely.

We are much bigger than this

When Vinko and Andrea talked about the diagnosis, Andrea said they were much bigger than it. Vinko felt safe. Andrea said, "We had this feeling we could have done anything together." It was empowerment.

“We are much bigger than this.”

From secret to matchmakers

Vinko and Andrea had started a professional matchmaking service for gay men early in their relationship. When they worked through the diagnosis together, they felt supported and empowered. Their love and relationship kept growing.

Better with time

Andrea said their love and relationship are constantly growing. They evolve and develop together, respecting and supporting each other's choices. It is not always roses, but the relationship gets better and better with time.

“It's not always roses, but when you get older, you understand that the relationship gets better and better with time.”