Nicky Brownless says she is ‘very happy’ with Garry Lyon

NICKY Brownless has opened up for the first time about her relationship with Garry Lyon — a romance that tore apart his friendship with her ex-husband Billy.

NICKY Brownless will step out at a celebrity event, with daughters Lucy and Ruby as a guest of Lavazza on Oaks Day, for the first time since revelations of her relationship with Garry Lyon.

The ex-wife of Footy Show larrikin Billy has kept a low profile since it was sensationally revealed in February last year she and his former colleague and best friend were romantically linked.

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Nicky, 48, says she and Lyon, 50, are still happily together and that enough time has passed for her to feel more comfortable stepping out into the spotlight again.

“Yes, we’re still together and very happy,” she says.

“We’ve all moved on and everyone is happy and we’re just getting on with life.

“We know the truth, that’s the most powerful thing. We know where we’re at and what’s going on.

“You get to a point in your life where you just want to be happy.”

Garry and Melissa Lyon with Nicky and Billy Brownless in 2011.

The former mates with Nicky in 2007.

The drama unfolded publicly last year when Lyon took leave from his television roles on The Footy Show and Footy Classified, revealing he had been battling depression for several months.

News of the Melbourne champion’s falling out with former mate Billy quickly emerged, with an emotional Brownless detailing on television how he had confronted the pair over his “hunch” something was going on.

“I had asked Garry and Nicky earlier on what is going on and they said ‘no, nothing’, they were just good friends. That’s what hurts the most,” the former Geelong star said.

“A good mate wouldn’t do that.”

Lyon and former wife Melissa.

Nicky and Billy have four children.

Lyon had separated from wife, Melissa, in 2014. The couple have three sons.

A year after the rift with Brownless was revealed, Lyon confirmed his relationship with Nicky was still going strong.

He returned to breakfast radio in January this year, saying: “Nicky and I are together and I am eternally grateful that she’s been able to support me through it.”

‘It’s what’s going on the inside that matters’

Nicky now splits her time between her home in Geelong and Lyon’s home in Melbourne.

Her daughters, Lucy 21, and Ruby, 19, live together in South Yarra.

She is also mother to two boys: Oscar, who is completing year 12 this year, and 13-year-old Max, who is in school in Geelong.

“Life’s busy, I’m up and down a lot. Now with all but one of my kids finishing school you go from focusing on the kids and you start coming out the other side and go ‘Right, now there’s more time for me’,” Nicky says.

Nicky Brownless with her daughters Lucy and Ruby. Picture: Alex Coppel.

She says she is proud of the way the girls have handled themselves through a difficult period.

Lucy studies nutrition and Ruby is doing a styling course at the Whitehouse Institute on top of the many ambassador roles the glamour sisters have taken on.

“I love that with the girls it’s what’s going on the inside that matters and they’re really grounded,” Nicky says.

The trio is looking forward to a fun day at the races, along with several other celebrity mothers and daughters invited by Lavazza for Oaks Day at Flemington, including Brooke Hogan and mum Lisa Parker, Jessie Murphy and her mother, and Jo Hall with daughter Emmerson.

“I think it’s a nice experience to do it with the girls and obviously it’s such nice way to do it to be invited. Lavazza always looks like it’s really fun,” Nicky says.

Supportive and protective of their mum, the sisters are excited to be having a day out at the races together.

“Doing it together makes it more fun. It’s been enough time now, everyone is happy, it’s all worked out,” Lucy says.

“I think everyone is comfortable where everything is at, we’re all really close as a family, our family is fine so everyone else should be as well.”

Billy Brownless with Garry Lyon before their falling out. Picture: Instagram

How the Lyon-Brownless drama unfolded

February 2016

Lyon’s battle with depression became public after he went on indefinite leave from The Footy Show, following his falling out with Brownless. The Herald Sun revealed Brownless had confronted Lyon about his relationship with Nicky in the previous few months.

March 2016

An emotional Brownless spoke on The Footy Show about the rift, admitting the pair hadn’t spoken since news broke of his former mate’s relationship with Nicky.

Lyon and Brownless hamming it up.

September 2016

Lyon spoke of his ongoing fight with mental health issues for the first time.

November 2016

Lyon says he is ready to return to television work co-hosting Footy Classified for the 2017 season.

January 2017

Lyon and Nicky were seen holidaying together in New York, before Lyon returned to radio with a prerecorded 37-minute interview on SEN. In the interview with Mike Sheahan, he apologised for the hurt caused and revealed he had texted Brownless before news broke, but he hadn’t received a reply.

August 2017

Brownless and James Brayshaw cracked a few gags about “Gazza” at the Triple M 21st birthday celebrations.