Molly Meldrum's secret fiancee 'I TRULY LOVED HIM'

JOY ANTONIE DOESN’T REGRET NOT BECOMING MRS MELDRUM

- Jenny Brown

Music guru Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum was visibly moved meeting his ex-fiancée’s daughter for the very first time. Cuddling up to both women at a crowded gig, Australia’s favourite mumbler was almost lost for words.

“It was such a lovely moment,” Joy Antonie tells New Idea. The Melbourne-based designer and tattoo artist was engaged to the Countdown host for two crazy, tender years in the early 1980s.

“Ian just looked at my daughter Maggie and said, ‘You could have been mine!’ That was awesome. Her sister Bella was a little bit jealous,” Joy recalls.

Joy is speaking to us at her Cheltenham tattoo studio, Joy of Ink. Taking pride of place in the colourful parlour is a portrait Joy once painted of Molly, which by mysterious coincidence has just been returned to her on loan.

“I wanted to give it to Ian while we were still together but ended up donating it to charity almost 40 years ago,” Joy explains. “It’s so cool to see it again. What is the universe trying to do here?”

It’s clear Joy still cares very deeply for Molly.