Australian TV legend George Negus has died at the age of 82, his family says.
Negus’s death came after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
His family said on Tuesday afternoon the legendary TV journalist and broadcaster had “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones”. They thanked Australian healthcare workers for supporting him “in the best possible way” in his final moments.
“Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer’s inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times,” the family said.
“We also learnt a lot.”
An icon of journalism.
A legendary broadcaster.
A friend to many.#60Mins founding reporter George Negus has sadly died at 82, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.We will always treasure the stories and memories he gave us all. pic.twitter.com/2mtB5sAxUs
— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) October 15, 2024
Negus was born in Brisbane and began working as a teacher, before switching to journalism in his late 20s. He wrote for The Australian and The Australian Financial Review, before a spell as a media adviser to a Whitlam government minister.
He was a reporter on the ABC’s This Day Tonight and one of the original journalists on the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes from 1979 to 1986.
He was the first presenter of the national broadcaster’s Foreign Correspondent from 1992 to 1999 and also presented SBS’s Dateline.
A first-rate journalist and a truly wonderful human being. Farewell George Negus. It was such a pleasure to have known you. RIP.
— Anne Summers (@SummersAnne) October 15, 2024
There were also two eponymous current affairs programs, George Negus Tonight on the ABC and 6.30 with George Negus on Network Ten.
Negus previously lived on the NSW mid-north coast with his wife, Kirsty Cockburn. He was diagnosed with dementia about five years ago and had been in aged care in Sydney since late 2021.
“While we know he will be celebrated for his unique contribution to journalism, football, and the environment, he would also want to be remembered for the incredible family man he was,” his family’s statement read.
They requested privacy and suggested fans “kick a football, enjoy a hearty bowl of pasta, plan your next adventure to somewhere intriguing, or ask a curious question you think needs answering” in Negus’s honour.
He is survived by Cockburn, their sons Ned and Serge, and grandchildren.
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