Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia’s most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news
Max makes a Graceful exit
All signs point to splitsville for activist Grace Tame and her fiancé Max Heerey.
The former Australian of the Year, 30, is understood to have quietly split from Heerey, a finance bro-turned-gardener, sometime last year.
Which is fine – couples break up all the time – but the weird thing about this particular split is neither of them is willing to state what has now become blindingly obvious.
The once-inseparable duo haven’t been pictured together in months, nor have they featured on each other’s very active social media accounts.
All signs point to splitsville for activist and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame and her fiancé Max Heerey. They are pictured together at an SBS premiere in Sydney on April 17, 2023
Heerey used to work for his bride-to-be at the Grace Tame Foundation but quit to start a philanthropic lawnmowing business. Now he’s a mortgage broker.
He spent the summer surrounded by a bevy of blonde friends, with Tame nowhere to be seen. He also jetted to Europe for a boys’ trip last August, again without Tame.
The pair, both fitness fanatics, met through the running and cycling app Strava and began dating in 2020. Their romance followed her brief marriage in the States that ended in divorce.
Yes, you read that right. Tame was married before – and to a celebrity. Her first husband was the American former child star Spencer Breslin, of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ fame, who also happens to be the older brother of actress Abigail Breslin.
They wed in 2017 in an Elvis-themed ceremony – Breslin was Elvis, Tame was Priscilla – but ended their marriage shortly thereafter and Tame returned to Tasmania, where she would later meet Heerey.
Flash forward to January 2022, and her strapping new boyfriend popped the question during a scenic bike ride. A thrilled Tame couldn’t wait to share the happy news with her social media followers.
‘Love you forever and ever, angel man,’ she captioned a photo showing off a unique sapphire engagement ring while Heerey kissed her head.
Another picture showed the moment Heerey got down on one knee while an emotional Tame said yes, both with their bicycle helmets still on.
The pair, both fitness fanatics, met through the running and cycling app Strava and began dating in 2020. They are pictured here at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park in early 2022
It’s not widely known, but Tame was married before – to a celebrity. Her first husband was the American former child star Spencer Breslin (right), of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ fame
So… what went wrong? I don’t have the answers – yet – but it’s worth mentioning that something interesting happened as I was preparing this story.
After approaching Heerey for comment, I received a ping on my phone alerting me that Tame had requested to follow my Instagram.
Now, I can’t say for certain what that means, but it would appear there is some strategising going on behind the scenes of the break-up.
But for now, neither of them is saying a word. Heerey declined to comment and Tame didn’t respond by the time of publication.
Campbell Brown bets on friendship after marriage split
Sport and betting go hand in glove, so it’s hardly surprising to see a former premiership footy player getting along famously with a high-ranking employee of a major online bookmaker.
Indeed, I’ve had several people tell me lately of the friendship between AFL legend-turned-sports pundit Campbell Brown and Christina Ruiz, a rising star at Sportsbet.
Brown was pictured taking a stroll on Christmas Eve with an activewear-clad Ruiz, but we were quickly advised they were friends and nothing more. We don’t suggest otherwise.
Campbell Brown was pictured taking a stroll on Christmas Eve with Sportsbet staffer Christina Ruiz, but we were quickly advised they were friends and nothing more
Back in September, the pair (circled) enjoyed a dinner among fellow punting enthusiasts at The Botanical in South Yarra, where they both live
The 31-year-old is Sportsbet’s general manager of commercial content, a job that likely brought her into Brown’s orbit.
The two happen to live in the same apartment complex in South Yarra – a fair distance from Brown’s former marital home in Kangaroo Ground, where he keeps retired racehorses.
The Group Chat hears unconfirmed rumours Ruiz called off her engagement to a long-term partner just last year. It is not suggested her friendship with Brown played any role in that alleged break-up.
Meanwhile, Brown, a commentator on both AFL and horse racing with SEN and Seven, split from his wife Jessica Johnson six weeks after they celebrated the birth of their third son, Bailey, in August 2023.
It was later reported Brown had told his wife he had ‘fallen out of love’ with her.
The childhood sweethearts had been together for 19 years and married for ten. Jessica was apparently ‘devastated’ and ‘blindsided’ by the break-up.
‘It’s all so raw and came out of nowhere,’ a source told the Herald Sun at the time.
The Hawthorn premiership winner split with his wife of 10 years, Jessica Johnson (pictured together), in August last year, soon after she gave birth to their third son
Last year, Brown was rumoured to have been involved with Grace Hayden (pictured), the TV star daughter of cricket legend Matt Hayden
Following his separation from his wife, Brown began dating Grace Hayden, the TV star daughter of cricket legend Matthew Hayden. It is not suggested Ms Hayden was involved in the breakdown of Brown’s marriage.
Hayden, 21 at the time, was pictured dancing with Brown in November 2023 while they were ambassadors for the Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival in Tasmania.
Brown and Hayden were both represented by TLA Worldwide, a leading talent and marketing agency that connects sporting names with brands and fans.
Neither of them commented at the time, but The Group Chat was reliably informed Papa Hayden was not impressed by the romance and swiftly shut it down.
Ruiz and Brown’s reps were contacted for comment.
And finally… guess who, don’t sue
Which glamorous entrepreneur has been house-hopping and partying up a storm over the summer break at the business end of Wunulla Road in Point Piper – one of the most expensive streets in the country?
Having recently split from her husband, this business bombshell is finding herself couch-surfing in the lavish homes of other entrepreneurs while still trying to find a forever home.
We hear she is ruffling a few society feathers in the process.
The well-heeled peninsula of the east is no stranger to raucous society matrons and models, but neighbours are hoping the incessant comings and goings late into the night will settle down now we are a full week into the New Year.
