MAFS star Mel Schilling’s widower announces huge move

Mel’s husband Gareth and daughter Maddie will be moving to Bali, Indonesia. Photo / Instagram

Exactly one month after saying goodbye, Mel Schilling’s widower has shared some bittersweet news with her adoring MAFS fans.

To the background track of Art Garfunkel’s Bright Eyes, the reality TV expert’s still-grieving husband, Gareth Brisbane, took to Instagram to announce he and their 11-year-old daughter, Maddie, are packing up their life in the United Kingdom and relocating to Bali – a move his late wife would have definitely approved of.

Gareth began the post with some selected images of Mel and details from her private funeral, including a moving speech written by their young daughter.

“Thanks so much for all the messages of support over the past month since our girl’s passing, Maddie and I have drawn enormous strength from how so very loved she was and is,” he shared.

“We laid Mel to rest on the April 9. It was a lovely private ceremony for family and close friends which we streamed to Mel’s family in Oz. Maddie announced on the morning of the funeral that she had written a little speech which she delivered beautifully. Every inch her mother’s daughter and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Gareth went on to share that Mel was laid to rest in his hometown, in a cherished spot that held deep meaning for them both.

“Last weekend we scattered some of Mels ashes at the lighthouse in my hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland as was her wish,” he said.

“It’s a special place that really resonated with her, a place where strangers say hello as you pass, and a place we can now come back to reflect on our incredible 15 years together.”

And then … the big news.

“In a few short weeks Maddie and I will be welcomed back into the arms of mother Bali where we will begin our next chapter,” he confirmed.

“No better place to heal, a place that we all loved and where we still have some of our dearest friends who had the most wonderful blessing ceremony for Mel at our new villa last weekend.”

Those close to Mel took to the comments to congratulate Gareth on such a bold move – and confirmed it’s definitely something Mel would’ve wanted.

“Heading to Bali is the most Mel thing possible. Sending you both so much love as you step into this beautiful next chapter,” fellow MAFS expert Alessandra Rampolla wrote.

Mel died on March 25 at the age of 54.

The Aussie star’s death came just two weeks after she revealed her colon cancer had spread to her brain and no further treatment was possible.

In a statement shared on Mel’s social media, Gareth confirmed the devastating news of her passing with Mel’s final gesture to her little family.

“In her final moments, when I thought cancer had taken away her ability to speak, she ushered me closer and whispered a message for Maddie and me that will sustain me for the rest of my life,” he wrote.

“It took all of her remaining strength, and that gesture summed up our wee Melsie perfectly. Even then, her only thought was for Maddie and me.”

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