Highlights
- Fiona MacDonald passed away on October 3, 2024, after battling motor neuron disease (MND).
- She was best known for hosting ‘Wombat’ and ‘It’s A Knockout’ in the 1980s.
- She leaves behind two sons, Harry and Rafe, and sisters, Kylie and Jacki, but there is no mention of her husband, which indicates he may also not be with us now.
Fiona MacDonald, the cherished Australian television personality who brought warmth and wit to children’s television, has passed away at 67 after a courageous battle with motor neuron disease.
Her passing was announced through a heartfelt message posted by her sister, Kylie, on Instagram.
“Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building – Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud,” read MacDonald’s final message. “While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief.”
Born on May 27, 1957, in Blackall, Queensland, MacDonald grew up on a cattle property before rising to national prominence alongside her sister Jacki MacDonald, who co-hosted “Hey Hey It’s Saturday.”
A Career Filled With Joy
MacDonald’s infectious humor and quick wit made her a natural fit for television.
Jenny Woodward, her colleague from “Wombat,” remembers her fondly:
“She was one of those people that lit up the room when she walked in. She had a cheeky sense of humour and an infectious laugh.”
After leaving television, MacDonald reinvented herself as a wine expert and started a family, welcoming two sons, Harry and Rafe, in the 1990s.
Facing MND With Courage
Diagnosed with MND in November 2021, MacDonald transformed her struggle into purpose.
“I was blown away. There’s no family history of MND. It was a big shock,” she shared on “Australian Story.”
Rather than surrendering to despair, she embarked on a nationwide road trip with sister Kylie, raising A$223,000 for research.
Professor Dominic Rowe, her neurologist, noted her resilience:
“She put her armour back on, pulled herself together and with a bit of a f** you approach, said, ‘This is what I’m going to do.'”
