Fiona MacDonald’s family have paid tribute to the much-loved star following her death earlier this month.
Fiona, who won hearts as presenter of Seven’s children’s show Wombat during the 1980s, has died aged 67 after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease.
His sister Kylie Thynne spoke about her brother’s courage after she He refused further treatment due to the torment of his unrelenting symptoms.
“Fiona was an incredible writer and has touched so many people by being raw and honest about living with MND,” Kylie said. women’s day this week.
He said the family is “holding each other tight” following Fiona’s death, and described his sister as a “girl in boots and all” who “took” her illness as if “she had stolen it.”
“The outpouring of love (for Fiona) has been incredible,” he said.
“She has left an indelible mark on this world and on all of us.”
Kylie and Fiona made headlines last year when they took a trip together to raise money for MND. Their trip, which raised $200,000 for research, was later featured in an episode of Australian Story.
Fiona MacDonald’s family have paid tribute to the much-loved star following her death earlier this month. His sister Kylie Thynne spoke about her brother’s courage after she refused further treatment due to the torment of his unrelenting symptoms.
Meanwhile, a TV source revealed to the publication that there are plans to induct Fiona into the Logie Hall of Fame.
“There have been six posthumous recipients over the years,” the source said.
“So Fiona is very likely to be recognized for her outstanding contribution to the Australian television industry – she was well loved by everyone.”
A TV source revealed to the publication that there are plans to induct Fiona into the Logie Hall of Fame.
Posthumous members of the Logie Hall of Fame include journalists Peter Harvey, Brian Naylor, Neil Davis, Brian Walsh, actor Maurie Fields and conservationist Steve Irwin.
Fiona announced her own death on Instagram earlier this month in a heartbreaking post.
“Goodbye my friends,” said the Queensland-born presenter.
‘My sister Kylie is posting this because I left the building. I hope I’m looking down from a cloud.
‘Last night put an end to some very hard months. It was very calm, the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.’
Fiona rose to fame appearing in shows such as Wombat, the puppet successor to Agro’s Cartoon Connection. (Pictured with Aggro)
He described the excruciating pain he had suffered over the past few years and said he wanted to end that suffering.
‘Although I never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief. The last few months have been hard.
He added that his death was on his own terms, after he told doctors not to continue treating his condition.
“After much soul searching I made the decision to stop all medical support and finally go to the hospital for palliative care at the end of life,” he wrote.
‘When you love life as much as I do, it takes a lot of courage to make decisions that lead to goodbye. So let’s not say goodbye because I hope to see you again on the other side. Until then.’
Fiona rose to fame appearing in shows such as Wombat, the puppet successor to Agro’s Cartoon Connection.
She was also a favorite on many popular variety and lifestyle shows throughout her career, including Look Who’s Talking and In Brisbane Tonight.
Kylie and Fiona made headlines last year when they took a trip together to raise money for MND. Their trip, which raised $200,000 for research, was later featured in an episode of Australian Story. (Pictured)
The showbiz star, sister of Hey Hey it’s Saturday star Jacki MacDonald, retired from the industry in the early 2000s to run her own wine consulting business.
He worked as a business development manager and public relations and communications manager for wine marketers Fine Wine Partners.
Fiona left the organization in 2015 and set up her own PR consultancy business, Wine Chronicles, that same year.
Fiona previously revealed that she first noticed symptoms of motor neurone disease before 2021, when she was diagnosed.
MND causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to progressively fail.
As the nerves of the brain and spinal cord are affected, the patient is unable to walk, talk and even breathe independently in the later stages.
As the disease progresses, sufferers find that all of these actions become more difficult or impossible.
“In July I realized I was having trouble speaking clearly, especially if I was tired,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
AFL great Neale Daniher is a prominent sufferer of MND and has done much in Australia to raise funds for research and public awareness of the condition.
Fiona is survived by her two sons, Harry and Rafe.