“It’s been involved in all the major parts of our life, right from the start. It’s an essential part of who we are,” Mr Barnbrook says.
The couple have the imagination of George Lucas to thank for meeting, with the two originally connecting over a Star Wars online game 19 years ago.
“I was a doctor and he was a smuggler and I had to buy faction points to join the Rebel Legion,” Ms Barnbrook says.
“We started spending time outside of the game, but the game is how we actually met.”
Before too long, the couple were celebrating their relationship at a Star Wars-themed wedding.
In 2022, the Star Wars universe is just as significant for the couple who run Board Games and Battlegrounds and Epic Quest Café in Seymour.
For Ms Barnbrook, she believes that one of the reasons why the franchise has inspired such a strong international following is the different points of identification that Star Wars provides.
“It draws lines,” she says.
“There are people rising up to sort of defend against what they would perceive as evil.
“And then you have those that really get on board with the Imperial side, which are the ones that have to set the law. So you can sort of see that there's a lot of … people really wanting to stand up for something that they feel strongly about.”
The two are also passionate about how Star Wars can inspire and transport the minds of young people, with Mr Barnbrook reflecting on a Star Wars day that he participated in at Federation Square.
“It gives people the ability to connect with the community,” he says.
“We had kids with additional needs coming up and asking where Luke was going to land his X-Wing. It has that broader connection.”
When asked to pick a favourite Star Wars film, it’s an easy choice for Mr Barnbrook, with Rogue One at the top of his list. For Ms Barnbrook, it’s a controversial selection, with the most recent The Rise of Skywalker taking first place.
As Star Wars devotees, the two definitely don’t feel alone in Seymour, with Ms Barnbrook sure that “you’d be able to find hundreds and hundreds of Star Wars fans”.
“Whether they’re out of the closet or not”, is another matter.
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