Toby (32) and Chrissy (30) have been together since high school in Queensland and the story of how they fell for each other is worth retelling.
She was 15, he was 17, and they met playing basketball. Toby sent her an anonymous Valentine’s Day card. Every week he posted her another anonymous letter. Chrissy raced home from school on the appointed days breathless to see what the latest offering held: “I was only 15 and it was so exciting.”
She never suspected Toby was the author, thinking it was one of his friends. They were at a party when he finally ‘fessed up to being her secret admirer. Chrissy was bowled over, surprised, thrilled, and suddenly in love. They’ve been together ever since.
They live on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast where Chrissy is a mother and part-time teacher while Toby is a civil engineer. Toby follows Aussie Rules, so he’ll be right at home in Melbourne even though he barracks for the Brisbane Lions.
Chrissy, ready and raring to go, is super-competitive. She knows she’s the loud half of the combo and describes Toby as the quiet one, almost too quiet. “He’s in a coma and I’ve got ADHD.” But they complement each other and bring a tenacious spirit to the party. Chrissy’s drive and Toby’s quiet attention to detail make them formidable contenders.
The single greatest challenge in appearing on The Block 2011 will be the eight-week separation from their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter who will be staying with Chrissy’s mother.
Over the years this couple have undertaken quite a few tough renovations, with considerable experience in working to a budget of between $20,000 and $40,000. They recognise it’s not on the same scale as what’s now expected of them. “But they all ended up being classy jobs and we are well-seasoned and up for whatever this challenge throws at us,” says Toby.
They plan on making the most of the experience and are hell-bent on winning. They already have a plan for the prize money: buying a block of land close to the beach to build a beautiful home on.
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