Beloved Australian journalist and broadcaster George Negus has died aged 82 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, his family have confirmed.
The family released a statement saying Negus “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones” and paid tribute to his healthcare workers who had supported him “in the best possible way” at the end of his life.
“Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer’s inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times.
“We also learnt a lot.
“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.”
Negus was a giant in the Australian media and was admired for his down-to-earth interview style and his fearless pursuit of a story.
He started his career in journalism writing for The Australian and The Australian Financial Review.
He later became a reporter on the ABC’s This Day Tonight, and was then a correspondent for 60 Minutes and a co-host on Today Australia.
In 2015 Negus was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the media as a journalist and TV presenter, and for conservation and the environment. Later, in 2021 he was honoured with the Walkley Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism.
In 2022, during an interview with 60 Minutes, the journalist looked back on his 57-year career saying he was proud of his contribution and the people he had met.
“When people say to me ‘when I meet you, you’re just like you are on television’, I say ‘no, you’ve got it wrong’,” he said.
“On television, I’m just like I am. And if you think you know me, you do.”
Last month his son, Ned, said his father was in an aged care facility and was mostly “non-verbal”.
“For those of you who don’t know, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around five years ago,” Ned wrote on LinkedIn. “He’s now non verbal most of the time (mind-blowing for me but also any of you that know him).”