Patrice Lesley Newell (born 2 September 1956) is a former model, TV presenter, turned author, alternative lifestyle advocate and biodynamic farmer. In 1986 she gave up a high profile career with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) and Nine Network where she co-hosted the Today Show, to live on the land and run a 10,000 acre (40 km²) beef cattle property, known as Elmswood, in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Newell has a passion for biodynamic agriculture and healthy foods, which she talks about in her books; The Olive Grove and; Ten Thousand Acres - A Love Story. She is a founding member of the Hunter Olive Association.
Newell was the subject of A Place in the Country, the 4 October 2001 edition of the ABC-Television biography program, Australian Story.
In December 2006, she announced that she would be running for a seat on the New South Wales Legislative Council in the March 2007 New South Wales State election as an independent candidate endorsed by the Climate Change Coalition. Her policy platform was to put pressure on the Government to acknowledge that climate change is "the greatest crisis in human history" and that it should be recognised and taken into account in all Government policy.[1] She did not win a seat.
Newell was the lead candidate on the New South Wales Senate group ticket for the Climate Change Coalition in the Australian federal election held on 24 November 2007. The party received 0.89% of first preferences in NSW or 0.0622 of a quota.
Newell is married to Phillip Adams. They have one daughter.
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| Preceded by Sue Kellaway |
Today Co-Host with Steve Liebmann and George Negus 1986 |
Succeeded by Liz Hayes |
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With her partner Phillip Adams, she is the compiler of several books of jokes: