Melanie was born in Vaucluse Private Hospital, Moreland Road Brunswick, on the 14th June 1950, the first child of Len and Dee Gould. For about the first three years of her life, Melanie lived at Dee’s parents home at 40 Patterson Street before they built a new home at 4 Ada Street Preston.

Melanie completed primary school at Coburg East Primary School then went on to Newlands Secondary School, Murray Road Coburg. While at high school she swam for the school. In addition to her high school education she enjoyed ballet lessons and some extra art classes.

After finishing high school she completed a two-year teaching diploma to become a primary school teacher. She taught are various inner Melbourne schools including Dallas North, Footscray and Westgarth.

After living at Ada Street for a couple of years as a primary school teacher, Melanie lived independently in flats and houses in the inner Melbourne area including Carlton. She enjoyed gardening and doing her own art work. She particularly got involved with folk music, having her own music mixing desk and recorded various artists.

Around 1999, the Victorian Government offered departure packages to primary school teachers who were in excess at some schools. Melanie took a package and left employment as a primary school teacher. About this time she moved out of the inner Melbourne area to find cheaper houses to rent. So for about the last twenty-six years of her life she lived in the Dandenong Ranges area, renting houses around Gembrook, Cockatoo and Emerald and enjoyed looking after her many cats.

At the end of her life Melanie suffered from various aliments and after a year with lung cancer she died in the Maroondah Hospital on 1st September 2026, reaching the age of 76.