He won three premierships with the Cats. She, at first, was just in it for the “hot chips“. ELISSA FRIDAY meets picture-perfect couple Andrew and Georgia Mackie, happily raising their young family away from the spotlight of the AFL.

Pictures: Louisa Jones

Andrew, you’re well-known as a triple premiership player with the Cats, but what was your journey to professional footy?

I always loved sport in general, and certainly did as a youngster. I was an outdoorsy kid.

I was playing school football in Adelaide and we had a pretty good team. The AFL recruiters happened to be watching, and Geelong recruiter Stephen Wells must have liked what he saw because I was drafted at the end of the year, in 2002.

I’ve been here in Geelong ever since.

And your history with the Cats is still ongoing, yes?

I played with Geelong for 15 years before retiring in 2017 but now I work in the Cats’ football department.

Having come from playing and now being exposed to other parts of the football club, I’m always trying to influence what we are as a footy club from another angle. I enjoy learning new things and trying to influence in a positive way.

You were known for being a bit chirpy on the field, Andrew. Are there any sledges you’re particularly proud of, or any you’d like to share?

Well, I wouldn’t say, ’proud of’, but I did target a couple of guys named Mathew Lloyd and Luke Darcy and got into them a couple of times. Then they both went into the media and worked for a TV network, which might be how I got a bit of a reputation.

It wasn’t any personal attacks. I’ve always had fun and still believe there’s room for that.

Who was your toughest opponent?

When I was younger a guy called James Clement from Collingwood and then Chad Cornes from Port Adelaide.

I’ve never been the strongest sort of guy, and they were pretty well-built. They were strong players who had a strong mark and could play any position.

Do you have a trophy room to showcase your premiership wins?

No, I don’t. There’s nothing on show about the footy at home.

I’m not opposed to it, though. I’ve just never thought of putting anything on display yet. The memories and great times are still very fresh in my mind, though.

How did you deal with all that comes with being an AFL player?

I loved every minute of it, whatever came because of it, good or bad.

Sometimes you have to make sacrifices and decisions, but I’ve always had at front of mind, trying to better myself to ultimately make the team better.

What’s life like now after your playing days with the Cats?

I’m really enjoying my family life and the joy that having children brings.

Every day there’s something new or different going on. I’m enjoying the hectic-ness of it all.

Do any of the kids plan to follow in dad’s footsteps?

They enjoy getting outside and playing footy. There are just some signs they enjoy the game.

We’ll support them in whatever journey they choose to take.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy chatting with my mates, having a coffee, and taking the kids for milkshakes.

We always keep pretty busy but I love being at home. We both love pottering around the house, and we’re lucky enough to have a house that’s very kid friendly.

Georgia looks after the inside of the house and I look after the outside.

Is there anything that would surprise people to know about you?

I love to read the AFR (Australian Financial review). I like to keep an eye on what’s going on in the business world. I’ve always enjoyed doing that.

Georgia, where did you and Andrew meet?

Andrew lived around the corner form me. He’d come to Geelong from Adelaide, and was living with a host family.

We met briefly due to living so close by but we properly met each other at the Geelong Cup. I was at the cup with some school friends, and it all took off between us from there.

How long has it been now since you two lovely people tied the knot?

I was 18 years old and Andrew was 20 when first we started dating. We got engaged nine years ago now, and have been married for eight.

We got married in Melbourne in the botanical gardens and had our reception at Crown with about 160 guests.

Tell us about your family, and whether you plan to further expand the Mackies?

I have an older sister and an older brother, and Andrew has two older brothers. We’re actually both the youngest of our siblings.

With our four kids, Freddys six and has just started prep school, Louie’s four and is at kinder, Lindy’s two, and Banjo’s seven months.

I think four is plenty and wouldn’t have it any other way.

When did you move into your new home?

We bought it nearly six years ago and settled on the day we had Freddy.

We demolished the house, decided to start from fresh, and it took about 10 months to complete. It’s is a mid-century modern house.

I worked closely with the builder, Built by Wilson, for ideas. We moved in 18 months ago and we absolutely love it.

It’s a big family home and I’d be happy to stay here forever.

Were you much into footy before meeting Andrew?

Um, I did really like to watch him playing. I really cared but I don’t think I’ve watched a game since he retired.

I don’t like watching sport in general, really. Our boys watch it. They like it more as they get older.

As a child I used to watch it and would go to games with my parents. I really enjoyed going, I think for the hot chips.

Are there any pressures that go hand-in-hand with the WAG lifestyle?

Not for me, personally. I like to get dressed up and look good, but at the end of the day you do feel a tiny bit of pressure.

However I didn’t feel as though I had the pressures of building a business or a brand.

Is it a bit of a clique?

When they’re playing there’s sense of closeness among the partners and wives because we’ve all got the game in common. When you have kids, timewise it can separate the group a bit because you can’t do as much.

Georgia, what do you enjoy doing most in your spare time, if you have any?

I don’t have much spare time at the moment, ha-ha. I used to like going shopping and doing all those sorts of things but I haven’t done those things for years.

I like going out for coffee and doing yoga but now my spare time consists of taking kids to the park.

Is there anything that would surprise people to know about you?

I have really curly hair, ha-ha.

With her leg pinned shattered under a truck, the future looked bleak for grandmother Jillian Nielsen. But ELISSA FRIDAY discovers the plucky ex-therapist dancing her cares away just 18 months later.

A beaming smile complements Jillian Nielsen’s youthful, energetic persona – and not even being literally hit by a truck can change that.

But the traumatic 2017 accident has still taken its toll, robbing the East Geelong grandmother of her 15-year career as a remedial therapist with an “enormous” clientele.

“I can no longer do that job because I can’t use all my life-force energy standing all day. I need that for my own rehabilitation now.”

Jillian’s life-changing accident came before sunrise on a cold June morning as she prepared to cross a road with friend Lorraine on the way to a central Geelong gym.

“When the green-man signal came we stepped out onto the crossing and, as we stepped out, in my peripheral vision I caught sight of a garbage truck hurtling around the corner,” Jillian remembers.

“We didn’t hear it because there was lots of machinery doing work on the road, so there was noise and it was still dark.”

Jillian saw the truck only when it was virtually upon her.

She yelled in alarm to Lorraine beside her.

“I threw her to the curb and myself with her,” Jillian says.

Lorraine “narrowly escaped” injury but Jillian was less fortunate.

“The truck actually came to a stand-still on my right leg,” Jillian recalls.

“Luckily I had my wits about me and yelled to Lorraine to go up to the driver and tell him to move about 12 inches forward so the back wheel didn’t go over me as well.

“He did that and I pulled my leg out from under the truck.”

The severity of the injury was confronting, Jillian says.

“All the bones splintered. I remember thinking, ‘You’re in a bit of trouble here, girl, but they’ll be able to fix it.”

But the “fur-lined, colourful, hot-pink, orange and neon-blue coat” she was wearing at the time was also on Jillian’s mind by the time help arrived.

“I can take them off myself – it’s only my leg,“ she remembers telling the paramedics.

“I just didn’t want them to ruin my clothes. I know it sounds ridiculous now.”

She remembers an “unknown” man cradling her at the scene, keeping her warm and conscious as she lost blood.

“I don’t know who he was but I’d like to tell him I’m very grateful for his care. I wish I could thank him personally.”

Jillian was first transported to University Hospital Geelong Hospital but remembers little after the trip, other than the subsequent helicopter ride to Melbourne’s The Alfred.

She lay on her back for two weeks as her leg bones were pinned with screws.

“I remember the nurses always smiling, but I had 14 operations in a period of about two months,” she grimaces.

Jillian’s daughters came from Adelaide, Perth and Barwon Heads “constantly” to be at her side.

“And Lorraine travelled to Melbourne to see me every day.”

But not every day was so bright, especially when the team of doctors concluded that nerves in her leg were severed.

“The skin and bones could repair but the nerves could never regenerate,” Jillian recalls.

Then she faced a terrible choice.

“It was mine, alone. If I kept my leg I would drag my foot forever and have multiple operations and be in constant pain, or I could have the below-knee amputation, which they suggested as a far-better option for me,” Jillian says.

The lifelong encumbrance of a lame foot seemed too much.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t do that’.”

So Jillian made the “best decision”, to go with the amputation.

“I’ve never regretted it, either,” she declares.

The experience taught Jillian that some things are just beyond the individual’s control, and must be “handed over to the professionals”.

“But I like to tell them, ‘I packaged it up in a beautiful parcel and I’m handing to you’.”

But some experiences during her treatment just couldn’t be handed over. In particular, the effects of the drug Ketamine, used during the amputation, took Jillian down to her lowest point.

“It was like the dungeon of the Earth,” she shudders.

“I couldn’t close my eyes. I saw visions of the most horrific things anyone could see, and I lay awake all night.

“There was nothing anyone could do. It was just all part of it.”

Jillian spent the following few months in a wheelchair, undergoing a skin graft along the way, before she was fitted with a prosthetic leg.

Her recovery included learning to walk on the prosthetic, while regular physiotherapy with an exercise physiologist helped re-build lost muscle.

But the biggest aid to Gillian’s recovery came from beyond hospital walls.

“Having that supportive network and beautiful family and friends assisting along the way with each step, pardon the pun, was the most inspiring thing of all for me,” she says.

Eighteen months later Gillian’s up and about but “still learning and getting adjustments made” to her prosthetic leg.

She recently upgraded to a design more-similar in appearance to her remaining left leg, and with a moving foot that helps her get about unaided.

“I’m delighted I can walk now,” Jillian says.

Despite the pain and long recovery, she believes that the accident actually changed her “for the better.“

In fact, Jillian’s so much better that she’s posting weekly Instagram videos of her dancing with daughter Julia.

“It’s an important part of my recovery. The old me worked very hard in my business and I didn’t devote much time for myself,” Jillian says.

“I don’t have flashbacks or mind-talking about the accident, and don’t talk about it much nowadays. I’m more of a listener to other people.

“I want to enjoy my life now and have beautiful experiences with my friends and family.”

Fighting illegal fishing on the high seas is along way from operating a vegan market in Geelong. But ELISSA FRIDAY discovers a local who combines both in her passion for animals and the environment.

A passion for animal welfare and the environment has taken Lexi Marsh from suburban Newcomb to adventures on the high seas with world-renowned marine activists.

As a member of Sea Shepherd Australia, she volunteers to protect marine life from illegal fishing, often on some of the world’s roughest and most-dangerous waters.

Lexi first joined the renowned crew of animal activists after taking a break from her day job as an event manager in Melbourne.

“I escaped the concrete jungle,” she says.

“Now I’ve travelled all over the world with Sea Shepard, fighting for marine wildlife and eco-systems.”

With previous sailing experience and a love of the ocean and animals, Sea Shepherd was a perfect fit for now-committed vegan Lexi.

A resistance to sea-sickness also helped, she admits.

“It means I can do a lot of sailing.

“Over my sailing career, a lot of which has been with Sea Shepherd, I’ve spent 825 days on board and sailed 56,000 nautical miles.“

Lexi’s first experience with Sea Shepherd opened her eyes to the suffering of marine animals

“I couldn’t go back,” she declares.

“We see the fish getting treated so badly, and you just wouldn’t eat seafood after seeing what we’ve seen.

“I wasn’t vegan when I joined sea Shepherd at 33 years of age. You don’t have to be vegan to join but the vegan food they do serve on board is incredible.“

Sea Shepherd’s online mission statement describes the group as a not-for-profit “conservation organisation whose mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species”.

The organisation describes its Australian branch as utilising “innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas”.

“By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems, Sea Shephard works to ensure their survival for future generations,“ the mission statement says.

Lexi shares Sea Shepherd’s commitment to marine life.

“It gives me a purpose while I’m out there. I don’t want to just cruise the ocean while the ocean’s suffering.“

Lexi initially joined Sea Shepherd’s tall ship as a quartermaster on the bridge but trained as an officer for the next campaign while acting as navigator for eight hours a day.

“The bridge is control centre of the ship, where all the equipment is,” she explains.

“It’s where all of the AI (automatic identification system) is to search for illegal vessels, and it’s where we plan our strategies to achieve our mission targets.

“The bridge is where we call a meeting and decide collectively if we’re going to approach a vessel and how.”

Intercepting boats fishing illegally on the ocean open is a team effort, Lexi says.

“We send two small boats off the ship, our fast boast.

“One of the small boats has the coast guard on board, and they’re armed with AK47s. On the second we send the fisheries (officers) and Sea Shepherd inspection crew.”

Now a first mate during her stints with Sea Shepherd, Lexi works from midnight to 4am, then midday to 4pm while also fulfilling managerial ship duties in between.

“Eating, sleeping, excising and socialising have to fit in too, somehow,“ she laughs.

Lexi is thrilled to roam the ocean with 25 other “really passionate” crew members of varying ages from countries all over the world.

“We’re putting our lives at risk for what we’re passionate about.

“It does have an element of danger in regards to approaching and boarding illegal fishing vessels.

“I’ve now been on seven campaigns, each with a different focus, but, basically, our mission with all of the campaigns is to defend, conserve, and protect our oceans and all marine wildlife.“

Lexi’s missions have ranged from chasing a drift-net vessel all the way to China to intercepting vessels fishing illegally off Antarctica and across the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

“We work with governments so we can together patrol their waters so they can make the arrests,” she explains.

“If a vessel is deemed illegal, several soldiers remain on board and then the Sea Shepard ship escorts the illegal ship back to port where arrests are made.“

But it’s not all life at sea for Lexi. Back on land she joins forces in a market with “bestie” Krista Belle, now also a “passionate vegan” for over five years.

“She set up the market, called Geelong Vegan Lifestyle market, in December 2017 and now it has over 30 stalls,” Lexi says.

“Sea Shepherd’s one of our market’s not-for-profit partners, which allows me to combine my two passions.”

While emphasise she’s not speaking on Sea Shepherd’s behalf but still recommends the organisation to prospective volunteers.

“The ship’s always looking for volunteers. It’s an incredible experience where you get to live out your passions.

“It’s life-changing, awe-inspiring, and I learn so much about myself and the oceans without a doubt every time.

“The sense of satisfaction you get from that is out if this world.”

From high tech to smoked eggs, a new breed of entrepreneur is reshaping the future of Geelong. LUKE VOOGT meets three local start-ups exploring new frontiers in commerce.

Scores of brave Geelong entrepreneurs are risking it all to start ingenious, quirky and imaginative businesses in the city’s vibrant and changing economy.

With the decline of manufacturing, Geelong is banking on innovation and start-ups for its economic growth.

Groups such as Runway Geelong, which aims to create 70 new enterprises, are helping entrepreneurs like Rini Lombard make waves in the city by the bay.

Seven years ago Rini watched daughter Louise swing her teddy as she danced and her happiness inspired an idea that grew into a 7000-doll business.

“I created the first doll to make her smile,” the Highton entrepreneur says.

The busy single mother-of-three was about to take her eldest son to karate when Louise asked to dance.

“She just loved music and dance,” she says.

But with things to do, Rini suggested Louise dance with her other brother instead.

“He turned around and said, ‘I’m not going to dance with her’,” she says.

“So she just went in her room and danced with her teddy – and that was it.”

Rini spent two months making a doll for her daughter but was unimpressed with the results.

“I’m not that good at sewing,” she says.

But friends helped Rini improve the design and speed up the fabrication.

“Somebody liked it and said, ‘why don’t you sell it?’” she says.

“I needed money so I thought I’ll do it.”

She sold the dolls at local markets and ballet school concerts while juggling odds jobs, including working as a flight attendant, and looking after her kids.

“I liked the excitement when girls saw the dolls.”

Rini made about 600 dolls in a few years before taking the business to the next level.

“The first challenge was facing the unknown,” she says.

“The risk is scary. Do I keep going with this business or do I get a full-time job somewhere else? Because I need to feed my family.”

The next challenge was the rejections.

“As a start-up they see you as nothing,” the Indonesian expat says.

“I couldn’t even speak English properly back them. I had to prove myself or, unless you have a million dollars, it’s not going to happen.

“I had to learn everything. I took a small course in microbusiness management. It changed the course of the business.”

Most companies were unwilling to take a “leap of faith” with Rini because they required a minimum of 2000 to 6000 dolls a year.

“But a company from Indonesia gave me the chance to meet them in person and I just jumped on a plane.”

Rini secured a manufacturing deal in 2014 and later a stall at the Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair 2016

“It grew to thousands from there,” she says.

Her company, The Big Little Bear, has sold 7000 dolls and ‘surfy buddies’ across Australia and the world so far.

“The business has brought so much joy to me – that warm fuzzy feeling when somebody actually sees my creation,” she says.

“Whenever I’m about to give up I receive a letter from a parent or grandparent saying, ‘(the doll) brought memories of when I was little, I want to dance again’.

“There are times when I stay up late and I have tables full of my cuffings and papers and I say, OK kids we’re going to eat in the lounge.”

Rini was proud when her daughter told her recently she was “brave” and “inspiring”.

Louise, then 5, danced with a doll for the company’s first photoshoot. She again posed for mum in Geelong Coast Magazine at age 12.

“(The first time) she cost me only an ice-cream for the entire photo shoot!” Rini laughs.

“You do your best with limited funds. I have upgraded Louise’s photo bonus from ice cream to milkshake.“

A local egg business is also exporting Geelong to the world, after taking the Middle East by storm in February.

It all began with a humble smoker, explains co-founder Julie Kos.

The Stonehaven egg farmer bought husband Paul the device for their 30th wedding anniversary at a trade show a few years ago.

“My husband used to drool every time he walked past the smoking area,” she says.

“Anything that walked, we’d smoke it.”

Among their experiments was cracking an egg from one of their free range chooks in the smokehouse.

“It was like a marriage made in heaven, the taste of egg and smoke was amazing,” she says.

“We invited some family and friends out to see if they liked it or it was just me.”

They loved it, but the couple realised they had to devise a way to smoke eggs in their shells to sell them commercially, Julie says.

So they began a two-year quest to find the right combination of time, temperature, humidity and smoke.

“I said to my husband, ‘I think I’ve got it’ and he said, ‘it will never work’,” Julie says.

They nailed it in late 2017 and this February joined a trade mission to United Arab Emirates to market the product.

“It’s taken so long for us to get it to market,” Julie says.

“It could change the culinary world as we know it.”

Their product is especially popular among halal diners who do not eat bacon, she explains.

“Having a smoked egg is like having eggs and bacon, without the bacon,” she says.

The couple attended government functions and luxurious villas in Dubai, with at least 75 local distributors speaking to them.

“It’s phenomenal the amount of enquiries we got,“ Julie says.

“We certainly didn’t expect the response we got from Dubai, it was absolutely amazing! We need to go back there very quickly.”

Paul acted as company “spokesperson” on the trip as an “exhausted“ Julie took care of the rest.

“It’s not his forte so I’m very proud of him,” she says.

“I was up at 2am to deal with the business side of it in Australia.”

The Smoked Egg Company is negotiating supply and intellectual rights deals in countries including Egypt, India and Thailand.

“We’ve definitely got the American arm going, that’s signed, sealed and delivered,” Julie says.

“We believe Japan will be our biggest market but we didn’t think so at the time.”

Apart from perfecting the smoking, one of the biggest challenges was marketing the egg as a raw product, Julie explains.

“It’s not without its teething problems, we’re learning every day.”

But once customers understand they still need to cook the product “they love it”, Julie says.

“For example, if you’re making pasta and you use my egg instead of a normal egg you get smoky noodles.”

Julie says the smoking process is a “game-changer” in the food industry with laboratory tests indicating no bacteria at 18 weeks of age, compared to 250 million for a normal egg.

Former Ford worker Paul and Julie bought their farm about 15 years ago.

“We were one of the first people to do free-range in Geelong,” she says.

The Geelong born-and-bred couple, in their early 50s, plan to keep the liquid component of their business local to keep work at their Breakwater factory, Julie says.

“This is going to help put Geelong on the world map even more.”

Another Geelong start-up is making its mark overseas by leading tours in “raw” and “beautiful” Africa.

“Africa was never on the bucket list,” admits Denise Smith, who co-owns Africa Roar alongside husband Brian.

“It was so far from what we ever envisaged our future being.“

The central Geelong couple, in their early 60s, first journeyed to Swaziland and South Africa with a friend in 2011.

“We thought there was nothing to see in Africa that would float our boat,” Denise says.

“It was sort of one of those places where you don’t normally hear good things about.”

But the couple soon fell in love with the continent.

“As we progressed through our tour and saw the raw beauty of Africa, the poor, the underprivileged and the wild animals, we just realised how unique it was,” Denise says.

“We just felt like we were so connected to it, it was pulling us into the ground.”

They visited wildlife reserves, donated to agricultural plantations and gave food to AIDS orphans as they travelled.

“That was really humbling. (AIDS has) wiped out a generation,” Denise says.

“We have access to three or four meals a day and those children are lucky to get one.”

Former refinery worker Brian also donated some medical equipment he acquired from his previous employer.

“That equipment saved lives,” Denise says.

“We just wanted to keep going back and giving. We had to show our Africa to the world.

“We thought the best way we could do that was take people over and actually show them.”

So the couple began running tours for family and friends.

“Just last year we decided we would give it a go as a businesses we could make a profit off,” Denise says.

Africa’s safety record provides a niche where experience matters for prospective travellers, Denise explains.

“The media reports all these negative things,” she says.

“There are some unsafe places but that’s not where we take you.”

The ground work for the business and itinerary was a huge challenge, Denise says.

“The hardest obstacle for us is just getting our name out there and getting that trust established.”

The company now runs 18-day tours for groups of six or fewer.

But despite safety being the most important thing on their tours, “everyday day is different”, Denise says.

From vultures in the trees or lions chasing down their prey, to taking part in a local wedding ceremony or festival, it’s all “unrehearsed”, she says.

“Africa is so wild and hair-raising.”

After playing in front of hundreds onstage last year Joey Donald still reckons busking is by far the toughest gig.

“It’s something all musicians should do,” the 17-year-old East Geelong guitarist and singer says.

“It’s the hardest audience you’ll ever have because they’re not coming to see you. But if they like you they might pay you or stay and watch.”

After a “solid year” busking, a friend helped Joey score a gig playing the riffs of legendary guitarist Brian May in a local stage production of We Will Rock You.

“I’m a big Queen fan so he thought I’d enjoy it,” he says.

“Brian May essentially taught me guitar. I learnt a lot of techniques watching videos of him play at Wembley and Live Aid.”

Joey admits being nervous playing his idol’s songs at first but it all “came naturally” onstage.

“I grew out my hair, curled it up a bit and made sure I did those solos as much justice as I could. It’s a bucket list item that’s been ticked off.”

He hopes to perform in other local plays between busking, teaching guitar and playing in a Crowded House-Split Ends cover band.

“I’d love to do Rock of Ages,” he says.

“There’s such a magic in doing a show you enjoy.”

Joey has played guitar for 10 years and is currently studying sound production to make a career out of music.

“Sound production can be my day job and music could be my hobby – if my music went well it could be the other way around.”

He also hopes to return to his “main busking spot” in Highton after making the finals of Geelong’s Best Busker recently.

“It’s not quite as confronting as Malop St where you’ve got 80 people crossing the road. Not that I’ve found it that hard but friends who busk tell me Malop St is difficult.”

They couldn’t remember each other from grade three but a night at the Sphinx Hotel was all it took to unite hometown Lara pair Lara’s Melissa Rogers and Callum Lewis.

WHERE THEY MET

Melissa and Callum both grew up in Lara.

“We were introduced through a couple we knew,” Melissa says.

“We were at the Sphinx in Geelong on a karaoke night when we were 19 years old and I was there with my girlfriends. Callum came to the Sphinx with a friend who was dating my friend.”

The pair began chatting before later connecting through Facebook.

They’ve been together ever since.

“And our friends are also now married, and with three little boys,” Melissa says.

THE FIRST DATE

“We went out for ice-cream on our first date and discovered we actually went to primary school together in grade three,” Melissa says.

“We have the school photos to prove it. However, we don’t remember each other at all.

“It was really nice to be able to meet again with a fresh perspective”.

THE PROPOSAL

Melissa was surprised when Callum popped the question while the couple was away on a holiday in Far North Queensland.

They were initially with Callum’s family on Hamilton Island before the couple returned to the mainland and hired a car.

They eventually found themselves on Port Douglas’s idyllic Four Mile Beach.

“I didn’t know Cal had the ring with him,” Melissa says.

“He waited to propose when no one was around on Four Mile Beach. He got down on one knee and I pretty much said, ‘Yes’, straight away.”

THE ENGAGEMENT

The couple were engaged in 2016 and married 18 months later.

“We had our engagement party quite soon, on the 16th of July 2016”, Melissa remembers.

“I’d been waiting nine years, so I was pretty ready to get into it all.”

THE RING

Melissa was bereft of ideas for her ring, so Callum visited a number of jewellers before eventually choosing a design from Michel Hill.

“I probably was looking for something simpler but he felt that my ring needed more diamonds on it,” Melissa laughs.

“It took me a while get used to it because it really shines in the lights.

“It was definitely a big surprise when I saw it. I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe I get to wear this’.”

WEDDING PLANNING

The planning was “a little bit more stressful” than Melissa expected.

She chose to have a stylist, who also helped with ideas and colour schemes for the big day.

“The venue’s wedding coordinator helped us co-ordinate the day, including making sure things were in place for my dad who needed special assistance,” Melissa says.

She also put wedding theme ideas on a Pinterest board.

“However, I’d already figured my scheme beforehand, having done lots of research.”

Wanting a casual theme, she chose maroon “running through everything”.

“I even wore maroon coloured shoes that I’d bought years ago and had re-soled,” Melissa says.

HENS AND BUCKS

Melissa’s sister organised her hens’ party.

“All I wanted to do was be pampered in some way, so we went to a day spa,” she says.

The party first enjoyed massages followed by a champagne breakfast and a make-up trial at Melissa’s house.

“We had the bridal shower at Winters Cafe where we enjoyed afternoon tea, played games and enjoyed amazing food,” she says.

“My mum and mother-in-law came to the spa, so altogether there was around 15 of us. Later about eight of us went to CQ bar at the pier for cocktails and dinner”.

Callum’s best friend organised a bucks’ party at a Bavarian restaurant in Melbourne.

“He had around 15 people, too,” Melissa says.

“I’m not sure exactly what time they came home but I know they enjoyed themselves and got up to a bit of mischief.”

THE DRESS

Almost immediately after their engagement Melissa and Callum visited her sister and mother on the Gold Coast, where the dress-hunt began.

“One of the first things we planned was to try on dresses alongside my sister and my mum because of my sister living on the Gold Coast. She couldn’t be involved in the planning as much as she wanted,” Melissa explains.

“It’s not that normal to try dresses on that quickly. The dress was one of the first decisions we made for the wedding.

“My mum and I went to four bridal shops and had the appointments all in one day. I probably tried on four or five dresses in each shop”.

Melissa found the dress she wanted, made to measure in the last shop she visited.

“It was on a rack at the front door and I didn’t really know if it was going to suit me but I wanted to try it on,” she remembers.

“Mum wanted us to buy it there and then, so I put a deposit down on the dress immediately.

“Callum wasn’t overly impressed as we hadn’t discussed out budget. I suppose I learned very early on to run the big expenses past him.”

BRIDESMAIDS AND GROOMSMEN

The couple had a “fairly large bridal party”, with five bridesmaids and groomsmen each.

“My sister was my maid of honour and the others were four close, life-long friends.

“We’re very blessed to have that many friends in our bridal party.

“Callum had all his really good mates, including his best man, who he’s known for about a decade.

The bridesmaids’ dresses came from different shops, “so everyone wore an individual colour”, Melissa says.

The groomsmen’s outfits were from Eddy Alias.

“It was nice everything was sourced locally,” Melissa says.

THE CEREMONY

Historic pastoral property Narmbool, at Elaine, northwest of Geelong, was the perfect venue for Melissa and Callum.

“Before it started I arranged to meet my dad, because he wasn’t going to be walking down the aisle,” Melissa explains.

“It was so he could see me in the dress, and I had a little wedding gift of motorcycle cufflinks for him.”

“The photographer captured a special moment when I gave them to him.

“As soon as we were married we went into the garden where we shared our first ice-cream as husband and wife, like we did on our first date and for our general love of ice-cream – choc-mint is Callum’s favourite and mine is lemon sorbet.

PHOTOGRAPHY

“We met Louisa Jones on site, and it was a really hard decision where to take photos because the property has so many beautiful spots,” Melissa says.

But the historic homestead and its gardens provided ideal backdrops.

“It’s an old sheep farm and there’s a bluestone homestead where we had our ceremony,” Melissa says.

FLOWERS

Melissa showed her florist some favourite photos from Pinterest to to choose the right flowers.

“She did a fantastic job and totally nailed it,” Melissa says.

The couple chose blooms with maroon colour tones and soft pastel blues.

THE RECEPTION

Narmbool also hosted the reception, which featured decorations of rustic leaves and posy jars full of the same flowers used in the bouquets.

“It was pretty relaxed and again we had the same maroon tones throughout,” Melissa says.

“Narmbool also catered. We chose duck and chicken meals, with alternative entrees and wedding cake for dessert.”

THE CAKE

Geelong West’s Loveit Cakes provided the cake.

“The owner’s my sister’s future mother in-law, so the cake was very special,” Melissa .

“They make incredible cakes and they were also invited to the wedding.

“We had a four-tier white choc and caramel cake with a white icing and flowers.

“It was very delicious”.