LIFESTYLE

Why Jacqui Felgate is happier, more fulfilled and mentally strong than ever

9 December, 2022 . 0

After a decade of summers chasing news, Jacqui Felgate is looking forward to her first proper Christmas break with her family.

The sweet taste of fresh crayfish is a simple pleasure that Jacqui Felgate will particularly savour this Christmas.

For The House of Wellness TV co-host, nothing says summer quite like catching crays off a pier on the Great Ocean Road.

And this year will be the first time in a decade the mother of two will be able to enjoy the spoils of her catch at Christmas lunch with her family.

“I’m going to have the first Christmas off that I’ve had in such a long time,” Jacqui says with excitement.

“I basically worked (as a journalist and presenter) every Christmas, whether it was at the Herald Sun or at Channel 9 or Channel 7 … and have had very few Christmas Days off with my kids.

“We would always do the presents in the morning.

“Then I’d rush into work, and catch up with them (the kids) again at dinner when everyone was tired, so I’d always miss that Christmas lunch.

“I mean, they’d put one on at work but it’s not the same.”

Summer fun with family

Along with her husband Michael and their two daughters, Maddie, 10, and Georgia, 5, Jacqui will spend her summer break swimming at the beach, playing ball games and riding horses — weather permitting, of course.

“You never know what to expect from a Victorian summer,” she says with a laugh.

The holiday is very much anticipated by the media personality, who quit her job as a sports presenter at Channel 7 earlier in the year.

“I’m taking the full two weeks off for the first time ever,” she reveals.

Take off: Family getaways to put on your to-do list

A bright outlook for Jacqui Felgate in 2023

Although she is still working on finding her work-life balance sweet spot, Jacqui has some big plans for 2023, with new roles as an ambassador for Chadstone shopping centre and football commentator for 3AW.

She is also hoping to find time to get back into running — maybe even train for a marathon — and spending more time riding horses with eldest daughter Maddie.

“I turned 40 in July,” she says.

“Everyone talks about this being a significant milestone in your life, but I’ve never been happier, I’ve never been more fulfilled and I’ve never felt better about my mental health than the last six months.”

Jacqui Felgate: “I wasn’t as happy as I could be”

Living and working with wellness

Jacqui is the first to admit that working 40-hour weeks in the newsroom during the pandemic took its toll.

But stepping down from her busy presenting job and taking up her TV co-hosting role with The House of Wellness has allowed her to focus on her family and own wellbeing.

“When I left Channel 7 (News), I just wanted to be happy again,” she says.

“And the (House of Wellness) show is one of those things that makes me happy because it’s so fun.

“I’m also learning a lot.

“To be able to have a laugh on telly and to talk about things that are of interest to you and your health has been like a breath of fresh air.”

Presenting a story about Racing Hearts — a charity helping teenagers improve their mental health through contact with horses — was particularly special, given her passion for riding and racing.

Also special is the fact she now feels comfortable about sharing her working life with her kids.

“I wouldn’t let my children even watch the news most of the time,” she says.

“I am sure a lot of parents would agree with me because a lot of what is on there just isn’t suitable.

“But Maddie came along with me on a (House of Wellness) story to this little dairy that had gone back to using glass bottles and had milk on tap and she just thought it was magic.

“To be able to have that bit of work-life balance, and the flexibility to bring my child to work with me without worrying about where you might end up at the end of the day, was special.”

As Jacqui gets into the swing of her exciting new life stage, she is filled with gratitude — for her new career opportunities, the chance to have more time with her family and, of course, the upcoming beach holiday.

“The kids grow up so fast,” she notes.

“To be there together for the summer, I just can’t put a price on that.”