Amanda Keller breaks down in deeply moving on-air moment

In an emotional and deeply moving on-air moment, beloved broadcaster Amanda Keller broke down in tears while marking her 35th wedding anniversary with husband Harley Oliver – a celebration tinged with sadness as the couple continues to navigate his battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Speaking candidly on JAM Nation with Jonesy & Amanda, Keller reflected on the gravity of the milestone and the shifting realities of a marriage tested by illness and time. 

“I don’t want to get emotional,” she began, her voice trembling. “It’s my wedding anniversary today. And in the old days, Harley and I would have been going out to dinner tonight. But he’s not well enough to do that.”

Keller, who has long been a staple of Australian radio and television, spoke of the moment so many couples take for granted: saying vows filled with promise, unaware of the storms that may lie ahead.

“When you stand there on your wedding day and you say forever, what does that even mean?” she asked aloud. “You don’t even know.”

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Oliver was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, but the couple kept the news private until Keller spoke publicly about his condition in 2023 on her Double A Chattery podcast. She recounted the subtle early signs – his dragging leg, trembling hands – and the devastating confirmation of what they feared most: a degenerative neurological disorder with no cure.

“In sickness and in health. And yet that’s where we are. And no concept of what that means until you’re living it,” Keller said. “I kind of fluctuate between taking great pride in the fight that we are alongside each other, and the strength that it takes to get up every day and still fight it and still live it.”

“You don’t get to cherry pick life,” Keller continued. “If you’re living life, the sands shift beneath your feet. But we’re still in it together. And I’m grateful for that.”

Despite her gratitude, Keller didn’t hide the hardship, admitting she sometimes has the “absolute sh*ts” with their reality. “It’s hard,” she said plainly.

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Still, there was a glimmer of joy. The couple’s sons would be joining them for dinner – a different kind of celebration, quieter but no less full of love. “We’ve lived a rich and wonderful life together, and we still do,” Keller admitted. “But it’s not the same as the old days.

"Anyway, happy anniversary, Harley.”

Keller closed with a reflection on the unpredictability of life and love – and the unbreakable bond forged through years of shared struggle and strength. “We all think that we’ll get to 90 and die in our sleep,” she said. “But people face stuff every day. That’s the meat of life. That’s the meat of a long-term relationship. So, I’m grateful to have that.”

Images: Instagram