Natalie and Barnaby Joyce had a whirlwind romance before marriage was ‘destroyed’ by Vikki Campion

Natalie Joyce was the shy girl from the bush who caught the eye of confident larikin Barnaby during an evening of rowdy celebrations at their university bar.

The night of their meeting, during New England University’s O Week, would spark a romance between the pair, built on a shared love of rural Australia.

Mr Joyce’s charismatic, ‘funny’ character was what helped bring out his estranged wife’s ‘cheeky’ side, Ms Joyce revealed to Australian Women’s Weekly this week.

Natalie (left) and Barnaby Joyce’s (right) whirlwind romance sparked one evening during University of New England’s O Week celebrations after Mr Joyce told his future wife, ‘you’ll do’

She said the pair weren’t certain of what their futures would hold, but knew that if nothing else, they wanted to start a family. 

Mr Joyce, who met his future wife during his third year of his accounting degree, wooed Ms Joyce, an early childhood teaching student, with his one-liner ‘you’ll do’ during a car rally race.

Their similar backgrounds became binding elements in their 24-year-long marriage – both born at Tamworth Base Hospital and growing up in rural areas.

They also both came from families with strong Catholic backgrounds who were strongly respected throughout rural New South Wales.

Natalie and Barnaby were a ‘good team’ and shared many of life’s pleasures, including four daughters, Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 18, and Odette, 15. 

Natalie and daughters Odette 2, Brigette 9, Julia 7 and Caroline 5, with Barnaby at Parliament House in 2005

Natalie and daughters Odette 2, Brigette 9, Julia 7 and Caroline 5, with Barnaby at Parliament House in 2005

They dated for a short time before getting married in 1993 and moved sporadically for 19 years to a variety of towns including Moree, Werris Creek, Kingaroy, Charleville, Emerald and St George.

In 2013 they settled in Tamworth with their four girls, while Mr Joyce pursued his dream to win the federal seat of New England. 

Ms Joyce said her ex-partner’s relationship with his daughters deteriorated rapidly as a direct result of him being a politician, she told Weekend Australian last year.

‘It’s taken a long time to get that father-daughter rapport,’ she said, with Mr Joyce agreeing, ‘In the end they give up on you. They just don’t think you’re going to be there.’ 

Natalie and Barnaby just before starting an election address at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra in 2016

Natalie and Barnaby just before starting an election address at the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra in 2016

In a bizarre press conference during the controversial debate about same-sex marriage in December, 2017, Mr Joyce confirmed he had separated from Ms Joyce.

‘The current definition of marriage has stood the test of time… half of them fail, I acknowledge that,’ he said on December 7.

‘I’ll acknowledge … I’m currently separated so that’s on the record. I don’t come to this debate pretending to be a saint.’ 

Ms Joyce said she had her suspicions he was having an affair with his media adviser, Vikki Campion, but given their history, she was willing to fight for her marriage. 

She agreed to attend the high-profile Mid Winter Ball under the encouragement of Mr Joyce’s media adviser – she smiled for cameras but was disappointed at her husband’s lack of contact. 

Natalie joins Barnaby as he celebrates victory for claiming the seat of New England at his campaign event in Tamworth in 2016

Natalie joins Barnaby as he celebrates victory for claiming the seat of New England at his campaign event in Tamworth in 2016

She said despite the couple’s shared love of dancing, he didn’t ask her to dance once, and hardly spoke to her throughout the course of the evening. 

In July, she accompanied him on an official trip to the UK, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, on the promise Mr Joyce would go two weeks without contact with Ms Campion.

But the trip spelled the end of their marriage – Mr Joyce abandoned his wife at the airport on return to fly out and be with his former staffer, who was pregnant with his child.    

Without one single look back or final wave goodbye, Mr Joyce’s departure sent a clear message to Ms Joyce, who stood ‘paralysed’ as she watched him leave. 

In an interviewed published Thursday Ms Joyce responded at length for the first time to her husband’s relationship with Ms Campion, his former staffer. 

The 48-year-old told The Australian Women’s Weekly she confronted Ms Campion in Tamworth in March last year, calling her a ‘home-wrecking w****’. 

In an interviewed published Thursday Ms Joyce responded at length for the first time to her husband's relationship with Ms Campion (left), his former staffer

In an interviewed published Thursday Ms Joyce responded at length for the first time to her husband’s relationship with Ms Campion (left), his former staffer

Ms Joyce said she had suspected for months her husband was having an affair with Ms Campion and she was ‘proud she stood up’ in a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. 

‘I was very measured. I didn’t raise my voice. She and Barney were smoking outside. He bolted when he saw me,’ she told the magazine. 

‘I turned to her and said, ‘My husband is out of bounds, off-limits, he’s a married man with four children’.

‘And then I called her a home-wrecking w****. It was not one of my finer moments but, looking back, I’m proud I stood up to her.’

Tim Joyce, Barnaby’s brother, died of cancer at the weekend after being taken to Royal North Shore Hospital late last week.

The warring Joyces came together and hugged at his Sydney funeral, in front of the couple’s daughters Odette and Bridgette.

Tim was 42 and is survived by his widow Cassie and children Molly, Gracie and Max. 

Barnaby and Natalie hug in front of onlookers, as their daughter Bridgette (front) stands nearby. The couple's separation was announced by Mr Joyce last December

Barnaby and Natalie hug in front of onlookers, as their daughter Bridgette (front) stands nearby. The couple’s separation was announced by Mr Joyce last December

Barnaby, Natalie and family stand outside the church before Thursday morning's service

Barnaby, Natalie and family stand outside the church before Thursday morning’s service

Mr Joyce puts an arm around daughter Bridgette (above) as he makes his way into the church

Mr Joyce puts an arm around daughter Bridgette (above) as he makes his way into the church

Ms Campion, 33, gave birth to Sebastian in April and she and Mr Joyce subsequently gave a paid interview to the Seven Network.

Mrs Joyce described that interview, for which the new couple was paid $150,000 to be put into trust for their son, as an ‘absolute disgrace’.

In a further indignity, Mrs Joyce revealed she and her husband had always wanted to name a child Sebastian if they had a son.

Mrs Joyce described the choice of Sebastian’s name as ‘another malicious taunt in a very long line of appalling behaviour.’

As the couple embrace outside St Mary's Catholic Church, their two daughters Bridgette (left) and Odette (far right) stand nearby

As the couple embrace outside St Mary’s Catholic Church, their two daughters Bridgette (left) and Odette (far right) stand nearby

Mr Joyce (pictured) and his daughter Bridgette (front right) are comforted by mourners outside St Mary's Catholic Church. Natalie is pictured at far left

Mr Joyce (pictured) and his daughter Bridgette (front right) are comforted by mourners outside St Mary’s Catholic Church. Natalie is pictured at far left

Mr Joyce was one of the pall bearers who carried Tim Joyce's coffin to a waiting hearse

Mr Joyce was one of the pall bearers who carried Tim Joyce’s coffin to a waiting hearse

After embracing his estranged wife Mr Joyce mingled with other mourners outside church

After embracing his estranged wife Mr Joyce mingled with other mourners outside church

A grieving Mr Joyce was among hundreds of mourners at the funeral service for his brother

A grieving Mr Joyce was among hundreds of mourners at the funeral service for his brother

Mr Joyce arrived almost an hour before the funeral service for his brother Tim began 

Mr Joyce arrived almost an hour before the funeral service for his brother Tim began 

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce carries his brother's coffin from the church 

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce carries his brother’s coffin from the church 

Mr Joyce described his brother Tim's final moments, saying: 'He looked at the ceiling and said thank you God for giving me the experience of life'

Mr Joyce described his brother Tim’s final moments, saying: ‘He looked at the ceiling and said thank you God for giving me the experience of life’

Barnaby Joyce, pictured at his brother's funeral, gave a paid interview to the Seven Network, alongside his mistress Vikki Campion, the mother of his first son, Sebastian

Barnaby Joyce, pictured at his brother's funeral, gave a paid interview to the Seven Network, alongside his mistress Vikki Campion, the mother of his first son, Sebastian

Barnaby Joyce, pictured at his brother’s funeral, gave a paid interview to the Seven Network, alongside his mistress Vikki Campion, the mother of his first son, Sebastian 

Mrs Joyce was not paid for the Women’s Weekly interview, in which she also revealed she learnt Ms Campion was pregnant months before he announced their separation.

‘In late September 2017, I gave him back my wedding ring,’ Ms Joyce told the magazine.

‘He said, ‘Nat, give me a week. I thought I had this sorted. I love you – you know that – I just f***ed up’. Not a week later I got the news: Vikki was pregnant.’

She had asked her husband to come home but he told her he could not because he had to be with Ms Campion for their son.

Ms Joyce said she felt ‘used and spat out’ after watching Mr Joyce ‘sprint’ for an airport departure gate on July 5 last year, heading off to be with his new flame. 

Mrs Joyce (far left) said she had asked her husband to come home in September last year but he told her he could not because he had to be with Ms Campion for their son

Mrs Joyce (far left) said she had asked her husband to come home in September last year but he told her he could not because he had to be with Ms Campion for their son

Mrs Joyce told Women's Weekly she gave her husband back her wedding wing in September

Mrs Joyce told Women’s Weekly she gave her husband back her wedding wing in September

Mr Joyce, who resigned as leader of the federal Nationals after news of his affair with Ms Campion engulfed parliament, was due to return to Canberra this week.

The National Party’s New South Wales leader John Barilaro had described Mr Joyce’s decision not to attend the annual conference as ‘probably a good decision’.

Mr Barilaro said it was important Mr Joyce took time to ‘heal’ while ‘looking after his family.’

A Nationals spokesman told the party conference at Cowra last Friday that Tim Joyce had been taken into intensive care.

‘The family has been called, he has terminal cancer and I just wanted you to all keep him in your thoughts and prayers,’ the spokesman said. 

The Joyces put aside their differences to farwell Barnaby's brother Tim on Thursday morning

The Joyces put aside their differences to farwell Barnaby’s brother Tim on Thursday morning

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Thursday for the funeral of Tim Joyce, who died of cancer

Hundreds of mourners gathered on Thursday for the funeral of Tim Joyce, who died of cancer

Tim Joyce is survived by his widow Cassie and their children Molly, Gracie and Max

Tim Joyce is survived by his widow Cassie and their children Molly, Gracie and Max

A hearse carrying Tim Joyce's coffin prepares to leave St Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday

A hearse carrying Tim Joyce’s coffin prepares to leave St Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday

 



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