Elizabeth and Jason Docherty of Kandos set off on a road trip across the Simpson Desert in June as a ‘Babymoon’ to celebrate their first pregnancy and eighth wedding anniversary.
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At the end of the journey, walking up the notorious Big Red sand dune in Birdsville, Queensland, Elizabeth lost her wedding ring.
“I walked up the hill and when I got up the top I realised my ring was missing. I gave Jason a big hug and said it had gone, that I am really sorry. He said, ‘don’t be upset but there is no point in looking for it. We are never going to find it, the magnitude is ridiculous.”
Indeed the Simpson Desert has the longest parallel sand dunes in the world, and the Big Red dune in particular is driven over by tourists every day excited reach the top.
But on Tuesday, August 8, Mrs Docherty received a mysterious directive from her sister-in-law to check Facebook.
“She called me to say ‘just pop on Facebook and look at something’. I could not stop crying. As soon as I saw it I knew it was mine,” Mrs Docherty said.
A family had found the ring while visiting the Big Red and turned it into Birdsville Police.
A Facebook post published by ABC Queensland about the find was shared by over 5000 people.
“A lovely woman was with her husband and son on top of the dune having a glass of wine when she looked down and saw it,” Mrs Docherty said.
She was able to confirm the ownership of the ring with police because of the unique inscription on its band.
“When my husband and I eloped we decided to put inscriptions on each other’s rings. It means so much because it says that out of everyone in the world this special man chose me,” Mrs Docherty said.
“I am so very grateful to have it back and to all those people who took the time out of their day to share the post.”
The couple have been inundated by media since the feel-good story broke on Wednesday. The Project was scheduled to come to their Kandos home on Thursday night.
“You can’t say no to your 15 minutes of fame,” Docherty joked.
The couple’s first child is due in September.