George Negus dies after major health battle

Legendary television current affairs journalist George Negus has tragically passed away at the age of 82 after a health battle.

Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes Australia confirmed news of the veteran journalist’s death on Tuesday.

‘An icon of journalism. A legendary broadcaster. A friend to many,” the program’s Instagram post read.

’60 Minutes founder reporter George Negus has sadly passed away at the age of 82 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. We will always cherish the stories and memories he gave us all.”

Negus, one of 60 Minutes Australia’s original reporters when the show launched in Australia, was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and had been living in an aged care facility in Sydney since late 2021.

Just months before his death, his son Ned posted a touching Father’s Day tribute on social media to the man he calls “Negsy” after a family trip to the beach.

The post was accompanied by a photo of a frail Negus, wearing a cap and sporting his trademark mustache, as he warmly embraced his son on September 1.

“I was hesitant to post this on LinkedIn because it’s quite personal,” Ned Negus wrote.

“But then I realized that you are all human and there is always a place where you can share human reality with your professional network.”

Ned, who is Chief Commercial Officer for the A-League football competitions, then referred to his father’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

“He is now mostly non-verbal (baffling to me, but also to anyone who knows him),” he wrote.

Negus, one of the original 60 Minutes reporters when the show launched in Australia, was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and had been living in an aged care facility in Sydney since late 2021

‘Today is Father’s Day in Australia and we took a walk on the beach together.

‘He was clearly unsure why this particular walk was symbolic and at times unsure of who he was walking with.

‘At one point we stopped, he smiled broadly and then hugged me for a long time.

“It was sad, but it was uplifting to know that even if you can no longer say what you feel, you can still DO what you feel.

“I love you, Negsy.”

Negus was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and has been living in a retirement home in Sydney since late 2021. He is pictured with 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes

Negus made his last notable public appearance at the November 2020 memorial service for television pioneer Gerald Stone after the inaugural executive producer of 60 Minutes died at the age of 87.

Stone had selected Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie to run the news program in 1979 when Kerry Packer imported the format from the United States to be broadcast on his Nine Network.

At its peak in the 1980s, 60 Minutes was a ratings bomb, with a third or more of the national television audience tuning in on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m.

Brisbane-born Negus was a high school teacher until his late 20s, when he began writing for newspapers such as The Australian, followed by a stint at ABC’s groundbreaking This Day Tonight.

Negus was press secretary to Attorney General Lionel Murphy during Gough Whitlam’s short-lived Labor government and was handpicked by Stone to help found 60 Minutes.

Negus’s presenting style became so well known to television audiences that Paul Hogan sent him on his eponymous show with a George Fungus character. He is in the photo during an assignment

He worked on the program until 1986, sharing reporting duties with Leslie, Martin, Wendt and, toward the end of his tenure, Jeff McMullen.

Negus was the first presenter of ABC’s international current affairs program Foreign Correspondent and ran the program from 1992 to 1999.

Stone had selected Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie to run the news program in 1979 when Kerry Packer imported the format from the United States to be broadcast on his Nine Network.

At its peak in the 1980s, 60 Minutes was a ratings bomb, with a third or more of the national television audience tuning in on Sunday nights at 7:30 p.m.

From 2002 to 2004 he hosted George Negus Tonight, formerly known as New Dimensions, on the national broadcaster.

The following year he began hosting Dateline on SBS before becoming a regular panellist on Ten’s The Project, followed by a 6.30 presentation with George Negus on the same network.

Negus was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 ‘for significant services to the media as a journalist and television presenter, and to conservation and the environment’.