Beloved Australian television host Fiona McDonald has died, aged 67.
McDonald was known for her work on 1980s TV shows Wombat and It’s a Knockout.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: TV star Fiona McDonald and sister’s road trip to raise money for motor neurone disease.
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Three years ago she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease — a terminal illness that attacks the brain’s muscle-controlling neurons.
MND kills two Australians every day, with those diagnosed having an average life expectancy of two and a half years.
McDonald broke the news herself via a social media message posted after her death by her sister, Kylie.
“Farewell my friends,” McDonald 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.”
Her death was “very peaceful” with her boys and Kylie beside her, McDonald said.
“While I’ve never wanted to die, the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief,” she said.
“The last few months have been tough.
“Unable to swallow normal food, the tube feeding that should have sustained me didn’t work because my gut couldn’t tolerate any of the multiple brands of protein drinks. It went straight in and straight out.
“I have been slowly starving, growing weaker and weaker. I’ve also developed terrible back pain because my muscles aren’t supporting my frame.
“The black humour that served me well through the first years of this journey turned to despair.
“I made the decision after much soul-searching to cease all medical support and finally go into hospital for end of life palliative care.
“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: ‘May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, And may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.’
“I carry your love and laughter with me and hope you’ll remember mine.”
McDonald and her sister spoke to 7NEWS last year about how difficult the former’s MND journey had been.
“It’s taken her voice …. it’s taken the strength of her left leg,” Kylie said at the time.
“So, it’s a terrible journey.”
The sisters embarked on a road trip around the country last year to raise awareness for MND.
The 15,000km trip was completed over 38 days in their “mighty Mazda”.
Money raised through their trip went towards research of the disease.