Beloved Australian children’s TV star dies aged 67 after battling cruel disease – and shares heartbreaking goodbye note
Beloved Australian children’s television presenter Fiona MacDonald has died aged 67, almost three years after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The Queensland-born presenter was one of the most popular faces on Australian children’s television in the 1980s, appearing on shows such as Agro’s Cartoon Connection and Wombat.
She rose to national fame with the outrageous game show It’s a Knockout, which launched her celebrated career as a children’s entertainer.
Veteran showbiz reporter Peter Ford confirmed Fiona’s death in a heartbreaking statement on social media.
‘So sad that Fiona Mac Donald has passed away. What a fighter she was, so determined to raise awareness and money for ALS,” Peter began.
“Her story was told so powerfully on Australian Story a year ago. Condolences to her sons and family.”
Fiona has appeared on many popular variety and lifestyle shows throughout her career, including Look Who’s Talking and In Brisbane Tonight.
The showbusiness legend, sister of longtime Hey Hey it’s Saturday star Jacki MacDonald, retired from the industry in the early 2000s to run her own wine consultancy.
Beloved Australian children’s television presenter Fiona MacDonald (pictured) died earlier this week at the age of 67, almost three years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease
She worked as a business development manager as well as PR and communications manager for wine marketers Fine Wine Partners.
Fiona left the organization in 2015 and founded her own PR consultancy Wine Chronicles that same year.
Fiona previously revealed that she first noticed the symptoms of her motor neurone disease before 2021, when she learned she had the neurological disease.
Motor neuron disease causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to gradually fail.
Motor neuron disease is caused when nerves in the brain and spinal cord – which are needed for walking, speaking and breathing – stop working properly.
The Queensland-born presenter was one of the most popular faces on Australian children’s television in the 1980s, appearing on shows such as Agro’s Cartoon Connection and Wombat.
Fiona has appeared on many popular Australian variety and lifestyle shows during her celebrated career, including Look Who’s Talking and In Brisbane Tonight
As the condition progresses, patients find that all of these actions become more difficult or impossible.
“I noticed in July that I was having difficulty speaking clearly, especially when I was tired,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Fiona is survived by her two sons Harry and Rafe.
The showbusiness legend, sister of longtime Hey Hey it’s Saturday star Jacki MacDonald, retired from the industry in the early 2000s to run her own wine consultancy.