MAFS WE’RE GETTING MARRIED... IN REAL LIFE
JULES AND CAMERON ARE ENGAGED!
They are the poster couple of the season, seemingly falling head over heels in love on their television-wedding day. And despite some fans having reservations that there is undoubtedly drama to follow in the usual style of the controversial dating show, New Idea can exclusively reveal that this is not the case for lovebirds Jules and Cameron. “They are getting married for real,” reveals a close friend of the pair, adding the couple are completely in love. “Jules has a gorgeous ring and they have their whole future planned out. They are talking moving in together, babies, the lot, and they could not be more perfect together.” Managing to surprise his new fiancee by dropping down on one knee when she least expected it, romantic ex-cricketer Cameron popped the question – and with tears in her eyes, Jules accepted without hesitation.
“It was so beautiful,” says the friend.
“Jules has never been happier. She has this glow about her and Cameron is just oozing this new confidence now he has her in his corner.”
In fact, the pair were spotted packing on the PDA while walking hand-in-hand in Sydney last week. At one point, they were caught out in a cheeky embrace, but Jules was careful not to wear her ring.
“They don’t want the cat getting out of the bag just yet,” the friend says, adding the couple have had to keep their news a closely guarded secret because of strict contractual obligations and won’t officially make an announcement until the grand finale has aired.
“They cannot wait to start living their lives as a normal couple instead of in hiding,” says the friend.
“They just want to go out to dinner, catch a movie and hang out with mates. It’s been hard these past few months, but if anything it has made them stronger.”
Parked outside their small suburban home, Jim Greer’s truck is always packed and ready to go. It contains three months worth of food, 200 litres of water, solar panels and a GPS mapping system. Because Jim and his partner, Mel, don’t just go on the odd camping trip. The WA couple are expecting a catastrophe to hit and, as doomsday preppers (as they’re known), if the world ends, they’ll be ready and kitted out for survival.
“It’s not just that we’re waiting for world war three to start tomorrow,” 41-year-old Jim tells New Idea. “But everything is ready for my family if we need it. We’ll be able to jump in the truck and get away from danger.
“If there’s an earthquake, flood or a bushfire, we’re ready to roll. If s--t hit the fan it would be pretty chaotic. I believe there would be a lot of people running around panicking and I’d like to be one of the ones not panicking.”
It’s a new kind of life for 29-year-old Mel, who until 18 months ago had no clue about bush survival.
“Jim’s been doing it a long time and when we met I thought it sounded really cool,” she says. “We took off for a year in his truck and lived off grid. I missed my hair straighteners a bit but sometimes Jim put the generator on for me! I never thought I’d do anything like this.
“I was a city girl but it’s amazing how long you can live without a proper shower!”
Now, with a 7-month-old, Samantha, the pair have settled into small town living until she’s old enough to take off with them. But, of course, the truck is always ready.
“It always gets a lot of looks,” Jim smiles. “I built it myself.
“I wanted something I could drive off-road in because I don’t usually stick to the tracks. People always want photos with it and to know about what we have in there.”
As well as food and water supplies, the eight-tonne 4WD truck is kitted out for up to seven people, and means Mel’s two kids Bailey, 12, and Ella, 9, are able to escape with them too.
They have a toilet and shower, laptops and radios, fishing gear and a stash of muesli bars as treats for the kids. The 1200 kilometre range on the truck means Jim and Mel can get far enough away from the major population in the event of a nationwide panic.
“The kids love it. They fish and collect firewood and of course their favourite bit is toasting marshmallows on the fire at night,” Mel says.
“Jim has taught them heaps. Bailey especially would love to live in that truck!”
It’s not just the children Jim is teaching – he’s set up a website (jimsoutback.com.au) where you can learn how to make a fire with kangaroo poo, track animals or heal a cut or
“IF THERE’S AN EARTHQUAKE, FLOOD OR A BUSHFIRE WE’RE READY TO ROLL!”
scrape with bush medicine.
“The boy scout motto is ‘be prepared’ and I think I’ve followed that through my whole life,” Jim says. “I’ve had police pull me over to ask about the truck and how to live off grid. I want to share my knowledge. People might need it one day.”
A growing number of Australians are thinking along similar lines. One of the leading Australian Facebook survivalist pages has had 1000 new members in the last year.
“It’s not morbid,” Jim says. “I feel comfortable knowing it’s ready outside. People are pretty accepting of us.”
Mel’s friends have all got on board too and love hearing about her outback adventures.
“My mum still thinks I’m crazy,” she jokes. “But most people think it’s brilliant we can just up and leave at any time. I know we won’t have to stress while everything falls apart.”