Inside Fiona MacDonald’s heartbreaking three-year battle with motor neurone disease after TV legend announced her own death
The family of Fiona MacDonald have paid tribute to the beloved star following her death earlier this month.
Fiona, who won hearts as host of Seven’s children’s show Wombat during the 1980s, died aged 67 after a three-year battle with motor neurone disease.
Her sister Kylie Thynne has opened up about her sibling’s courage after she refused further treatment due to the torment of her unrelenting symptoms.
‘Fiona was an incredible writer and has touched so many people by being raw and honest about living with MND,’ Kylie told Woman’s Day this week.
She said the family are ‘holding each other tight’ in the wake of Fiona’s passing, and described her sister as a ‘boots and all girl’ who ‘rode’ her disease like ‘she stole it’.
‘The outpouring of love [for Fiona] has been incredible,’ she said.
‘She has left an indelible mark on this world and all of us.’
Kylie and Fiona made headlines last year when they took a road trip together to raise money for MND. Their journey, which brought in $200,000 for research, later featured on an episode of Australian Story.
The family of Fiona MacDonald have paid tribute to the beloved star following her death earlier this month. Her sister Kylie Thynne has opened up about her sibling’s courage after she refused further treatment due to the torment of her unrelenting symptoms
Meanwhile, a TV insider has revealed to the publication 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 it’s very likely Fiona will be recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Australian TV industry – she was so very loved by everyone.’
A TV insider has revealed to the publication there are plans to induct Fiona into the Logie Hall of Fame
Posthumous inductees into the Logie Hall of Fame have included 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.
‘Farewell my friends,’ the Queensland-born presenter said.
‘My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building – Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud.
‘Last night brought an end to a very tough few months. Was very peaceful, the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.’
Fiona rose to fame by appearing on shows such as Wombat, the puppetry successor to Agro’s Cartoon Connection. (Pictured with Aggro)
She described the unbearable pain she had been in during her last few years, and said she wanted to end the suffering.
‘While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief. The last few months have been tough.’
She added her death was on her own terms, after she told the doctors to not continue to treat her condition.
‘I made the decision after much soul searching to cease all medical supports and finally go into hospital for end of life palliative care,’ she wrote.
‘When you love life as much as I do, it takes a great deal of courage to make choices that lead to farewell. So let’s not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side. Until then.’
Fiona rose to fame by appearing on shows such as Wombat, the puppetry successor to Agro’s Cartoon Connection.
She was also a favourite 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 road trip together to raise money for MND. Their journey, which brought in $200,000 for research, later featured on an episode of Australian Story. (Pictured)
The showbusiness star, 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.
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 was diagnosed.
MND causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to progressively fail.
As the nerves in the brain and spinal cord are impacted, it leaves the sufferer unable to walk, speak and even to breathe independently in the latter stages.
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.
AFL great Neale Daniher is a high-profile sufferer of MND and has done much in Australia to raise research funds and public awareness of the condition.
Fiona is survived by her two sons Harry and Rafe.
