BY THE
BOOK
“People coming to my book
tours aren’t just MAFS fans—
they are women who genuinely
want to read my book to help
their businesses,” Tracey says.
“That’s amazing to be able to
contribute like that. I’m
really excited.”
Why did you decide to part ways in 2017?
Tracey It was just timing. Patrick is a very
busy man and I was doing my own thing.
Obviously, watching the show was difficult
and I chose not to be in touch with him while
the show was airing so I didn’t make things
worse. He was travelling while the show was
on, so he kind of got away with it.
Patrick I think she needed to have this
experience; it was important for her. Of
course, everything comes with downsides,
so it hasn’t been 100 per cent positive but
it certainly has been an experience that,
despite what some people might think to be
superficial, brought us a lot closer
Tracey, how does your relationship with
Patrick differ from those you had with
Dean and Sean?
Tracey When you do that show, you can get
confused with what is real-life and what isn’t.
I know Patrick is real but I couldn’t say the
same for Sean and Dean. Sometimes, I didn’t
know the difference between what was real
and what was for TV or for media
opportunities. When you’re questioning your
relationship based on what’s
real and what isn’t, that is not
normal. I don’t have to
question anything with
Patrick because he’s so stable.
He is such a rock.
Were you hurt by the
backlash you’ve received
after breaking up with Sean
and the suggestion you were with Patrick
the whole time?
Tracey I’ve been criticised from jumping
from one relationship to another, but guys
don’t have the same criticism going from one
girl to another, right? I’ve done nothing
wrong. There was no overlap between Dean
and Sean or Sean and Patrick whatsoever.
When I’m done, I’m done and I move on fast
because I know what I want. What’s wrong
with that? Patrick is so supportive. He is
really proud of me and the way I handled
myself and it shows what an incredible guy
he is to be able to get over that. It hasn’t
affected our relationship at all.
Patrick, it must be upsetting for you?
Patrick You never want to see people you
love be hurt, but at the same time, Tracey has
very thick skin. She has always been a strong
individual, but this experience definitely
made her a lot stronger and is what brought
us closer. I am a strong individual myself.
We both look at the situation as a growth
experience and often say anything that
doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That is
certainly what has happened.
Do you have plans to move in together?
Patrick That is very much on the cards. We
are going to travel a lot in the next couple of
months but, yes, after that. We love each
other, so it’s not a question of whether things
will occur or not, it’s just a matter of taking
things one step at a time.
Have you discussed marriage
and children?
Tracey We have three kids
between us. Before we can
move in, we want to
experience day-to-day life
together as we haven’t had
an opportunity to do that yet.
We are just happy to be back together.
Patrick We all want to find the person we are
going to spend the rest of our life with. If
everything goes well, of course, that will be
on the cards at some point but it’s not like
we are setting a deadline for ourselves. We
are just happy to take life as it comes. •
Given the public criticism she’s received,
do you consider Tracey a strong woman?
Patrick Yes, that’s why we get along so well,
because I’m not always going to agree with
her! She needs a strong man and she knows,
to a large extent, that I’m the only guy who
could handle her. [Laughs]
How did you initially meet back in 2016?
Patrick We met through a friend. I was, until
quite recently, the French consul in Western
Australia, so I was invited to functions with
senior politicians and everyone is married.
I needed a date to come with me to an event,
so I called a mutual friend and asked if she
had a lovely date for me. She said, “Yes, I do!”
Tracey and I clicked immediately.
“Patrick is so
supportive.
He is really
proud of me”
—Tracey Jewel
FROM LEFT: SPLASH NEWS (2)
“It’s been
a whirlwind
travelling for
my book tour,”
Tracey says.
MAFS stars (from left)
John Robertson, Carly
Bowyer, Troy Delmege,
Melissa Walsh, Charlene
Perera, Sarah Roza and
Dean Wells helped launch
Tracey’s book on June 6
in Melbourne.