Amanda Keller became visibly emotional during a recent episode of ABC’s heartwarming new series, The Assembly, after she was asked a simple question about her husband, Harley Oliver.
“Do you love your husband?” the Jonesy and Amanda radio host was asked.
“I think I’m going to cry, because my husband is going through some stuff at the moment,” Amanda responded.
“My husband has Parkinson’s disease, and we’ve been married 34 years, and life is changing around us.
“He’s so good with it, in a way that I’m not, actually. We’re learning to find ourselves in the midst of changing circumstances, and part of me thinks – it’s easy for me to say, he’s the one going through it – but part of me thinks it’s a real privilege to be with someone long enough that you go through these changes with them.
“So yes, I love him very much, even though we’ve got some stuff going on.”

The Gold Logie winner has been very open about her husband’s disease over the years.
In June 2024, the two celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary; Amanda shared an emotional tribute to her husband on social media to mark their special day.
Sharing a throwback black and white photo of the couple to her Instagram, the radio host reflected upon how her marriage had changed in the face of her husband being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than seven years ago.
“Harley’s Parkinson’s disease has sent a variety of challenges that he accepts with stoicism and grace (more so than I do),” she penned.
“But the essence of ‘him’ and ‘us’ remains. It’s the stuff we all face as we age and grow and morph, if we’re lucky.”

Earlier this year, Amanda broke down on her radio show after Best Years of Our Lives by veteran Aussie rockstar Richard Clapton came on.
She revealed at the time that the song had been played in various “pivotal” moments in her life and therefore was one she held very close to her heart. However, on that occasion, her mind automatically thought of her husband, leaving her in tears on live radio.
“It reminds you to hold on to the moments,” she said. “This is an amazing song.”
The lyrics say: “I say, Don’t waste time, These are the best years of our lives.”
“As I get older, I see this song differently. There’s a lyric here and I think of Harley who’s going through health battles,” she continued.
“And it says, ‘I wish time would stop 10 years ago’, I’m learning slowly life’s always changing.
“Don’t waste time, but this is a lesson for all of us, whether it’s your kids leaving home, [or] your parents passing away. We all have our challenges but hold on to every moment cause it’s so precious.”

In September 2023, the former television presenter revealed to the public for the first time that Harley had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for almost seven years.
Reflecting upon the moment they returned home from the doctor, Amanda described how she and Harley both felt “completely numb” when they learned of his diagnosis on her podcast Double A Chattery.
“I know Harley so well, and how protective he is of his inner core, he was absolutely scared and in denial, and who would blame him.”
She explained to forensic psychologist Anita McGregor that she first noticed “Harley’s footfall around the house changing, like he was dragging his leg, and his hands started to shake, and he said he’d just been whacked in the thumbs as a wicketkeeper playing cricket,” which are all signs of Parkinson’s.
Sadly, not long after they noticed the signs, he was diagnosed.

It all came to a head when a waiter asked her where the “old man [she was with] a few weeks ago [went], [as] he looked really ill,” in front of her son Jack.
“It shocked us, that this rich man we know, and this rich love we have for this man… was seen from the outside to look like that,” she said tearily.
Keller soothed her son by explaining, “That guy in the restaurant sees this guy prematurely aged and not looking healthy, but the richness of the journey that brings us here is a fabulous journey, and there’s still more to come.”
Amanda and her sons, Jack and Liam, have continued to savour every moment with their husband and father. The family bought a holiday house on the NSW South Coast last year.
Keller revealed, “I’ve had to work out how I feel about the future, and I’ve given up. Not in a bad way, but I can’t afford to think what will happen in 5 or 10 years time. I just can’t think about that.”
“Somebody early on said the one thing that’ll keep you out of a rest home is the relationship you have with your partner, and it’s so true. I’m very grateful that we have that strength.”
