<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em></em><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/married-at-first-sight" rel="" target="_blank" title="Married At First Sight"><em><span>Married At First Sight</span></em></a><span> expert and psychologist </span><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/mel-schilling" rel="" target="" title="Mel Schilling"><span>Mel Schilling</span></a><span> has died at the age of 54.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After being diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2023, Mel shared that cancer had spread to her brain in a devastating health update just 11 days ago.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She leaves behind husband Gareth Brisbane and 10-year-old daughter Maddie.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/senior-hospital-staff-sacked-by-alburywodonga-health/43d82f88-51d6-413c-959c-46d4783e3a02" rel="" target="" title="Hospital on life support after senior staff sacked"><strong><span>Hospital on life support after senior staff sacked</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Melanie Jane Brisbane-Schilling passed away peacefully today, surrounded by love," Brisbane said in a statement shared on his wife's social media tonight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mel-schilling-death-married-at-first-sight-expert-dies-following-cancer-battle/5f002ab3-4955-4f34-b1e6-a2b15822fda3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brisbane described Schilling as "an incredible mum, role model, and soulmate".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the lengthy statement, he went on to praise that his wife became "a new mum and a TV star at 42 — and nailed both" and the brave way she faced cancer head-on in her early 50s.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a woman who, through two years of chemotherapy, when she could barely lift her head from the pillow, never complained and never stopped showing courage, grace, compassion and empathy, and never missed a day of filming," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Life can be beautiful, and life can be incredibly cruel. But ultimately, life is fleeting, fragile, and tomorrow is promised to no one. If you can do anything to honour Mel, please live life to the full, love your people well, and try not to sweat the small stuff.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I had 15 wonderful years with my soulmate, and it was the privilege of my life to be by her side. For that, I will be forever thankful.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Goodbye, my love. My one. Until we meet again."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The widower thanked fans from all around the world who had sent their well wishes during her cancer battle.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On behalf of our family and her incredible friendship group, thank you for the support from around the world," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I also want to thank our wonderful MAFS family — John, Alessandra, Charlene, Roxy, and Sophie — for your kindness and compassion."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Schilling joined the MAFS experiment in its second season in 2016 and after its success, joined the MAFS UK expert couch in 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Before this, Schilling built a 20-year career as a registered psychologist, life coach and therapist.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite her career, she described herself as a "late bloomer" when it came to finding love.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She met her husband on a dating website in 2010 and they married in Bali eight years later. Schilling described the early years of their relationship as "pretty full-on". She fell pregnant before suffering a miscarriage at 40.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the years that followed Schilling and Brisbane went through IVF to fall pregnant with their daughter, Maddie, who she had at age 42.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In December 2023, Schilling first shared she'd been diagnosed with colon cancer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She spent much of 2024 undergoing chemotherapy and treatment while also shooting both </span><em><span>MAFS UK</span></em><span> and Australia back-to-back.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"To be totally honest, being at work was my favourite and it was so important because I felt like so much of myself was taken away with being unwell," Schilling told nine.com.au in January 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Being able to step into my work role was just so incredibly rewarding for me. It just reminded me that I'm still me. I can still be of value to people, be of service. It was really, really important to me. I'm so glad that I was able to do it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two years after the initial diagnosis, she received devastating news that cancer had spread to her brain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Over the past two years, while filming MAFS, I underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy and was later told I was eligible for a ground-breaking clinical trial specific to my gene type, due to start in March 2026.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once again, my optimism soared that I might beat this thing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Over Christmas, however, I began experiencing blinding headaches and numbness down my right side.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"After many tests I was told the cancer had spread to the left side of my brain and, despite subsequent radiotherapy sessions, my oncology team have now told me there is nothing further they can do."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alongside her sad news, Mel offered advice to her friends and followers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If I could leave you with one thing, it would simply be this: if something doesn't feel right, please get it checked out. It might just save your life," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>