For many, Jacqui Felgate is the familiar voice behind 3AW Melbourne’s Drive and a reliable source of breaking news updates on Instagram. But behind her radio persona lies a story of resilience, romantic missteps, feminist awakenings, and the powerful men—both challenging and supportive—who’ve shaped her personal and professional journey.
Now 42, Felgate has emerged as a candid commentator not just on current events, but on the complexities of life, womanhood, and love. In a recent Sunday Life feature, the broadcaster shared previously untold insights into her family’s military past, her whirlwind romance with her husband Michael, and the personal growth that followed a string of forgettable relationships.
A Family Shaped by War and Migration
Felgate’s roots are steeped in stories of courage and migration. Her paternal grandfather, Ray, served as a Grenadier Guard in London and fought across Africa, Sicily, and Italy during World War II. Unable to continue living in post-war Europe, he burned his uniform and moved to Australia as a Ten Pound Pom, carving out a new life as a house painter.
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“He moved in with my parents later in life,” Felgate recalls. “Michael and I stayed with him for a few weeks while my parents were overseas. We got to know the real Ray—a gentle soul who lived to 94.”
Her maternal grandfather, Basil, was also a World War II veteran stationed in New Guinea. Both men left indelible marks on Felgate’s understanding of service, sacrifice, and masculinity—lessons that would later influence her outlook on relationships and family.
Finding Her Voice in a Male-Dominated Media World
Growing up in Melbourne with her younger brother Anthony, who now lives in Darwin, Felgate describes a childhood filled with curiosity, conservative schooling at Tintern Grammar, and teenage nights spent at Ringwood’s iconic Jooce Nightclub.
She entered journalism during a time when women were still vastly underrepresented in newsrooms. “One of my first jobs was at the Herald Sun. I was a nervous wreck when I met Matt Damon at Parliament House during a promo shoot in 2007,” she laughs. “I completely froze.”
Despite the nerves, Felgate quickly rose through the ranks and eventually landed roles at Channel 7 and 3AW. But her success didn’t come without help. She credits Ross Stevenson for offering her a radio spot after she left TV, calling him a lifelong mentor. “He took me under his wing,” she says.
Other champions in her career include Eddie McGuire, Brian Taylor, and Hamish McLachlan—powerful male allies who continue to check in on her, even as she thrives on her own terms.
A Love Story Born in a Nightclub
While Felgate’s career was gaining traction, her love life was not as stable. “I have always been in relationships,” she admits. “I didn’t give my younger self enough time to enjoy my own company. I thought I needed to be loved by someone, and as a result dated a series of average men until I finally swore off them.”
Then came Michael.
The two met serendipitously at Hoo Haa nightclub on Chapel Street, just after the 2007 AFL Grand Final. “I went to have a drink with a male friend, walked up the stairs, and bumped into Michael. We spoke for 10 minutes and I texted my friends right away—‘I just met my husband.’”
They started dating that same week.
Michael, a former sports broadcaster, eventually gave up his own media career so Felgate could pursue hers fully. “When we had our second daughter, he said he’d stay home and raise her,” she says. “He has the most phenomenal relationship with Georgia because of that.”
Their family includes daughters Maddie, 12, and Georgia, 7—two girls growing up in a household where gender roles are redefined daily.
Redefining Feminism and Partnership
Felgate says the true strength of her marriage lies in mutual respect and a shared feminist ethic. “Michael lets me go on my feminist rants and takes it all on board,” she says. “As a woman in my 40s, I’ve learned that you have to find men who lift you up, who allow you to follow your dreams.”
She’s quick to point out that such men are rare, but worth waiting for.
Their relationship is a far cry from the unfulfilling partnerships she endured in her younger years. “For the first time in my dating life, I was like, this is what a good relationship feels like.”
Parenthood, Perspective, and Purpose
Felgate is refreshingly honest about the challenges of parenthood and modern womanhood. She credits her father, Clive, for instilling a tireless work ethic. Now 78, he still processes film in his garage and sells homemade honey at school fetes.
Her upbringing gave her the drive to succeed, but it’s her experiences as a partner and mother that have shaped her into the woman she is today.
In raising two daughters, she remains deeply committed to modelling strength, ambition, and vulnerability in equal measure. “It’s not just about pushing boundaries professionally, but showing my girls what balance, respect, and partnership really look like.”
Looking Ahead: Legacy Over Limelight
Felgate’s story is more than just a tale of media success. It’s about the importance of reflection, the courage to say no to what doesn’t serve you, and the beauty of finding support in unexpected places.
Whether she’s hosting Drive, mentoring emerging journalists, or parenting with intention, Jacqui Felgate is a woman who has not only rewritten the narrative of her life but is actively shaping a more honest and supportive future for women in media—and beyond.
