Retired Tasmanian lesbian couple wed in NZ thanks to crowdfunding

TASMANIAN couple Lee Bransden and Sandra Yates married over the weekend in a beautiful ceremony in Rotorua, New Zealand — and it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers.

The retired couple from the town of Davenport wanted to marry before Bransden succumbed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after her doctors gave her weeks to live.

When news of their wedding wish was made public, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist the couple.

In the space of about a week more than $10,000 was raised — exceeding the initial target of $6500

During the ceremony, the couple thanked everyone who supported them.

“We will use this inadequate word of ‘thank you’ to everyone who has supported us in our fabulous journey to become married,” Yates said.

“Thank you for all the beautiful wishes and generous donations enabling us to succeed in our destiny to be wed.”

Her new wife added: “It’s been the most wonderful day of my life. I am married to the most wonderful woman. This should have happened in Australia. For any other Aussies wanting to be married, I can highly recommend the beautiful people of New Zealand.”