NAME Courtney Wheeler
AKA Joe Wheeler’s Other Half
TIMES AROUND THE SUN 28
LITTLE ONES Due in December with baby number 1
FROM Blenheim, Marlborough
LIVE Currently living in Blenheim, but live between Dunedin and Tokyo
ALL ABOUT BEING Loving, friendly, motivated, organised and fun!
GIVE US THE LOW DOWN I have been living in Dunedin since 2013 with my husband Joe Wheeler who played for the Highlanders rugby team.
I originally worked as a Receptionist for a construction/roading company for 2.5 years, then got a job working in an amazing homeware store, Mintsix, for the best Interior Designer, Talia O’Connor.
THE BLOCK NZ Emma, who I did the show with, was at my home one night and decided to enter us online. I was not keen on doing it at all and thought, ‘we won’t make it in’.
What people don’t know, is we entered the season before the one we were involved in and we actually only made it through to the top 12, then got told we’d missed the cut.
The following year they asked us back and we had to go through the whole process again, made the top 12 couples again but this time we got on the show. So, my advice would be to never give up even if you fail the first time, there’s always a chance.
The reason why we did The Block, and entered was
FILL US IN ON THE BLOCK The Block was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. Nothing could have prepared us for The Block. It’s definitely a marathon, slow and steady wins the race. We made amazing friends, worked harder than we have ever have before, on minimal sleep, it really tested us physically and mentally.
It was 50% project managing and 50% filming a TV show and somehow doing both on a very complex building site. You do the impossible and make it possible. We could not have done it without our builders and tradies either, they are the real champions that get the impossible done every week.
HIGHS AND LOWS Some of the highs would be creating an amazing eco-home in just 12 weeks. Meeting some amazing people and sharing the experience with them.
Getting to do The Block with my best friend. Coming second, which we never entered the show for the money, as funny as that sounds I know we did it to test ourselves.
Breaking a block record on auction night, albeit for 10 minutes, till Sam and Emmett beat it haha. So many highs it’s actually hard to list them all.
Lows would be sleep deprivation, emotional and physical drain, all the painting we had to do, being away from home and my fiancé (now husband) for 13 weeks.
That was tough when he was based in Dunedin and was busy playing Super Rugby every week all over NZ, Oz and SA, but also kept him busy as well. I think we saw each other for one night that whole 3 months.
With being married to a Rugby player we are always on the go and don’t get to settle down and be in one place for very long which is lots of fun but sometimes you’d like to build a new home or renovate your forever home.
LIFE AFTER THE BLOCK Life goes back to normal apart from being recognized a lot down the street which is super sweet. People approach you like they know you, then realise oh no you were on a TV show, that’s how I know you.
Joe watched the Auction on Twitter when he landed going through customs so was fist pumping and getting weird looks.
I decided not to move to Japan straight away as Emma and I had some exciting opportunities that came from being on The Block.
I then moved over to Tokyo in November till the end of January. We now share our time between Tokyo and NZ and Joe is currently in his third season for Suntory.
THE STREETS OF TOKYO Is
DOTING WIFE OR INDEPENDENT WOMAN – WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE I think it is important to find enjoyment in your own interests and passions and it can be hard when you are following and supporting your partner. With rugby, they don’t get to play forever so it is a really short career in their lives, so we do have to make the most of the opportunities we get with such a dream job.
RUGBY LIFE It is such a privilege to be part of such an amazing sport and to see my husband live his dream job every day is awesome. We are so lucky for the memories, opportunities and friendships rugby has given us.
RUGBY LIFE HIGHS So many highlights but definitely all the people you meet and friends for life you make along the way.
Moving to another country and experiencing another culture. The opportunities it gives you and your partner, for after their rugby careers as well, is huge and we are so lucky.
Also, seeing him win the Super Rugby title in 2015 with the Highlanders was pretty special and of course I loved our time with the Tasman Makos, going back to our home province is always fun.
RUGBY LIFE LOWS One thing I find challenging, maybe as I’ve gotten older as well, is having to slot into a new team or even a team you have been in before.
With close friends leaving for other teams and even coming into the season a little later you feel a tad on the out or like you don’t belong even if you do know everyone it is a hard feeling to explain but I do find that hard sometimes.
RUGBY LIFE NEED TO KNOW I guess the behind the scenes riding all the highs and lows of the sporting injuries and surgeries or not making the team some weeks.
5 YEARS FROM NOW For my husband and I to have a happy and healthy family, surrounded by our great friends. Home is wherever we are. Being the best mother and wife I can be.
I’d love to be doing/working on something that doesn’t feel like a job!
WISE WORDS OF WISDOM If it was easy everyone would do it. Expect the worst, hope for the best and take what comes.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU
Instagram: @courtneywheeler__ @emmaandcourtneytheblocknz
Facebook: facebook.com/EmmaAndCourtney
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