Legendary current affairs television 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 announcer. A friend to many,’ reads the program’s Instagram post.
’60 Minutes’ founding reporter George Negus has sadly died at age 82, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. “We will always treasure the stories and memories he gave us all.”
60 Minutes Austalia journalist Charles Wooley, who joined the program in 1993, paid a moving tribute to his former colleague, revealing that Negus “introduced the Australian accent to current Australian television”.
“Before that, we spoke like the BBC or Bob Menzies,” Wooley told Daily Mail Australia.
‘George first came to attention on the ABC for his cheeky, broad Australian accent. But when he moved to 60 Minutes, that idiomatic style soon became the style of the house.
“It worked and now we don’t have to ‘put the dog’ in front of the camera.”
Legendary current affairs television journalist George Negus dies
“He escaped us a long time ago, but his legacy lives on in the Australian language of everyday broadcasting,” Wooley added.
Negus, one of the original reporters on 60 Minutes Australia when the program launched in Australia, was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and as of late 2021 was living in an aged care facility in Sydney.
Just months before his death, his son Ned posted a touching Father’s Day tribute to the man he calls ‘Negsy’ on social media after a family outing to the beach.
The post was accompanied by a photo of a frail Negus, wearing a cap and sporting his trademark mustache, warmly hugging his son on September 1.
Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes Australia confirmed news of the veteran journalist’s death on Tuesday
“I was hesitant to post this on LinkedIn as it is quite personal,” wrote Ned Negus.
“But then I realized that you are all human and that there is always a place to share human realities with your professional network.”
Ned, commercial director of the A-League football competitions, then referred to his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
“Now he doesn’t talk most of the time (mind boggling for me, but also for any of you who know 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 as of late 2021 was living in an aged care facility in Sydney.
‘Today is Father’s Day in Australia and we took a walk together on the beach.
‘He evidently wasn’t sure why this particular walk was symbolic and at times he wasn’t sure who he was walking with.
‘At one point we stopped, he smiled widely and then hugged me for quite a long time.
‘It was sad, but encouraging to know that even when 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 as of late 2021 was living in a senior center in Sydney. 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 60 Minutes executive producer died at age 87.
Stone had chosen Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie to head the news program in 1979 when Kerry Packer imported the format from the United States for broadcast on his Nine Network.
At its peak in the 1980s, 60 Minutes was a ratings giant, with a third or more of the national television audience tuning in at 7.30 on Sunday nights.
Born in Brisbane, Negus was a secondary school teacher until he was 20, when he began writing for newspapers such as The Australian, followed by a stint on ABC’s groundbreaking This Day Tonight.
Negus served as press secretary to Attorney General Lionel Murphy during Gough Whitlam’s brief Labor government and was hand-picked by Stone to help establish 60 Minutes.
He worked on the show until 1986, sharing reporting duties with Leslie, Martin, Wendt and near the end of his tenure with Jeff McMullen.
Negus’ presenting style became so familiar to television audiences that Paul Hogan cast him as a George Fungus character on his eponymous show. Appears in the photo in a task
Negus was the first presenter of ABC’s international current affairs program Foreign Correspondent, fronting the program from 1992 to 1999.
Stone had chosen Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie to head the news program in 1979 when Kerry Packer imported the format from the United States for broadcast on his Nine Network.
At its peak in the 1980s, 60 Minutes was a ratings giant, with a third or more of the national television audience tuning in at 7.30 on Sunday nights.
He presented George Negus Tonight, formerly known as New Dimensions, on the national broadcaster from 2002 to 2004.
The following year, he began presenting Dateline on SBS before becoming a regular panelist on Ten’s The Project, and later presented 6.30 with George Negus on the same network.
Negus was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 “for significant service to the media as a journalist and television presenter, and to conservation and the environment”.
