The widower of late MAFS star Mel Schilling has revealed he and their daughter are undergoing a huge life change, following her tragic death from bowel cancer last month.
Gareth Brisbane, who was married to the relationship expert from 2018 until her death on March 24, shared a post to social media over the weekend, revealing he and their daughter Maddie, 11, were permanently relocating to Bali, Indonesia.
‘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,’ Gareth told fans.
He explained that the popular holiday island was particularly special to Mel, and that by moving there he would feel spiritually closer to her.
‘No better place to heal, a place 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,’ he wrote.
Many of Mel’s closest friends took to the comment section to congratulate Gareth on the big move.
The widower of late MAFS star Mel Schilling has revealed he and their daughter are undergoing a huge life change, following her tragic death from bowel cancer last month
‘I love this G! What a beautiful place. Can’t wait to have a whiskey with you before you depart to Bali. Sending all my love,’ gushed Married At First Sight expert John Aiken.
‘Heading to Bali is the most Mel thing possible. Sending you love as you step into this beautiful next chapter,’ added fellow MAFS expert Alessandra Rampolla.
‘Sending you both so much love. Bali will be so healing,’ veteran presenter Shelly Horton chimed in.
Elsewhere in the post, Gareth shared insight into the family’s private funeral as they laid to rest the star following her tragic death.
The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert died last month at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer, leaving behind her British husband of eight-years and their beloved daughter Maddie.
Taking to Instagram Gareth gushed over Maddie, saying how proud her mother would be after she gave a ‘beautiful’ speech at the funeral, which was live streamed for Mel’s family back in Oz.
They then followed the late star’s wishes of scattering her ashes in Gareth’s hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland.
Alongside snaps of Mel and picturesque Whitehead, he penned: ‘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.’
Gareth Brisbane, who was married to the relationship expert from 2018 until her death on March 24, shared a post to social media over the weekend, revealing he and their daughter Maddie, 11, were relocating to Bali
‘We laid Mel to rest on the 9th of April. 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,’ he added.
‘Last weekend we scattered some of Mel’s ashes at the lighthouse in my hometown of Whitehead, Northern Ireland as was her wish.
‘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.’
Mel tragically died aged 54 just days after revealing her cancer had spread to her brain.
The Australian psychologist-turned-dating expert was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2023 and she and her family had been living in London, where she was being treated.
She previously announced that ‘after a tumour the size of a lemon’ was successfully removed, she had been given the all-clear.
But in a lengthy Instagram post she revealed that she found out her cancer had metastasised to her lungs in February 2024, and over Christmas 2025 it was discovered it had spread to her brain.
Mel’s husband confirmed the news of her death in a beautiful statement in which he spoke about her love for him and their daughter.
He explained that the popular holiday island was particularly special to Mel, and that by moving there he would feel spiritually closer to her
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