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 on the wacky 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 posted on social media.
“It’s so sad that Fiona Mac Donald has died. What a fighter she was, so determined to raise awareness and funds for MND,” Peter began.
‘His story was told so powerfully in Australian Story a year ago. My deepest condolences to his children 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 showbiz legend, 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.
Beloved Australian children’s television presenter Fiona MacDonald (pictured) died earlier this week aged 67, almost three years after she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
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 found out she had the neurological disease.
Motor neurone disease causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to progressively fail.
Motor neurone disease occurs when the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, needed for walking, talking, 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 appeared on many popular Australian variety and lifestyle shows throughout her celebrated career, including Look Who’s Talking and In Brisbane Tonight.
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.
Fiona is survived by her two sons, Harry and Rafe.
The showbiz legend, 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.