Gareth Brisbane: Mel Schilling’s husband Gareth shares emotional tribute four months after her passing

Gareth Brisbane, husband of Married At First Sight star Mel Schilling, has shared an emotional tribute to his wife four months after her passing. The Australian dating expert passed away in March at the age of 53 after a two-year battle with colon cancer.Mel’s passing left her husband and their 10-year-old daughter, Maddie, heartbroken. She was widely known as a relationship expert on Married At First Sight Australia, where she became a familiar face among viewers.On what would have been their eighth wedding anniversary, Gareth remembered Mel by sharing a picture from their wedding day on Instagram. He wrote, “Ah my one. Hard to reconcile that the anniversary of the happiest day of my life could become one of the saddest.”Reflecting on their relationship, Gareth shared that although they did not get tocomplete eight years of marriage and 15 years together, the love and memories they created would always remain special to him.“By the end of our first date I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and my love for you burned ever brighter, even as your own light faded,” he wrote.Gareth also shared an update about their daughter Maddie, saying that both of them were continuing to heal while carrying Mel’s memories with them. He added that Maddie has many qualities of her mother and that Mel would be proud of the young woman she is becoming.Mel was diagnosed with colon cancer in February 2023. Despite undergoing treatment, she continued working and appeared on Married At First Sight Australia while battling the illness.After her passing, Gareth shared details about Mel’s final moments and revealed that her last thoughts were for him and their daughter. He remembered her as someone who remained brave, compassionate and graceful throughout her health journey.

Speaking about her legacy, Gareth said that while many people knew Mel as a reality TV star and relationship expert, to him and Maddie she was their “wee Melsie” an incredible mother, role model and soulmate.The family later held a private funeral ceremony for Mel on April 9, which was streamed for loved ones in Australia. Gareth also revealed that they scattered some of her ashes at the lighthouse in Whitehead, Northern Ireland, fulfilling her final wish.Gareth later shared that he and Maddie planned to move to Bali as they continued their healing journey while keeping Mel’s memory alive.