Beloved Australian children’s TV host Fiona MacDonald has died aged 67, almost three years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The Queensland-born presenter was one of the most popular faces on Australian children’s TV in the 1980s, appearing on shows such as Agro’s Cartoon Connection and Wombat.
She rose to national fame on the madcap gameshow 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.
‘So very sad Fiona Mac Donald has died. What a fighter she was, so determined to raise awareness and money for MND,’ Peter began.
‘Her story told so powerfully on Australian Story a year ago. Condolences to her sons and family.’
Fiona appeared on many popular variety and lifestyle shows throughout her career, including Look Who’s Talking and In Brisbane Tonight.
The showbusiness legend, who is the sister of long-time 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 TV host Fiona MacDonald (pictured) died earlier this week aged 67, almost three years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease
She worked as both a business development manager and PR and communication manager for wine marketers Fine Wine Partners.
Leaving the organisation in 2015, Fiona set up her own PR consultancy firm Wine Chronicles that same year.
Fiona previously revealed she first noticed her Motor neurone disease symptoms prior to 2021, when she learned she had the neurological disease.
Motor neurone disease causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to progressively fail.
Motor neurone disease is caused when nerves in the brain and spinal cord — which are needed to walk, speak and breathe — stop working properly.
The Queensland-born presenter was one of the most popular faces on Australian children’s TV 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 condition progresses, sufferers find that all of these actions become more difficult or impossible.
‘I noticed in July that I was having trouble speaking clearly, particularly if I was tired,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Fiona is survived by her two sons Harry and Rafe.
The showbusiness legend, who is the sister of long-time Hey Hey it’s Saturday star Jacki MacDonald, retired from the industry in the early 2000s to run her own wine consulting business
