Tributes pour in for George Negus as 60 Minutes and 9News star dies aged 82
As I read through this poignant post by Ned, I found myself deeply moved by his heartfelt words about his father, Negus. It’s a testament to their bond and the love that transcends even the most challenging of circumstances.
Tributes have flooded in for George Negus after the veteran current affairs journalist died at the age of 82 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program announced the news of the veteran journalist’s death on Tuesday.
In simpler terms, after parting ways with George on the Today Show, Liz Hayes later expressed heartfelt sentiments towards the 60 Minutes journalist in a touching note.
On Tuesday, Liz praised 9News star as exceptional while expressing warm sentiments during their appearance on A Current Affair.
George was an influential individual who left an indelible impact on my life, and one I shall never easily forget. His essence touched everything he encountered, regardless of who he was or where he was.
68-year-old Liz, who teamed up with George on the Today Show between 1987 and 1990, also noted that her ex-partner will be fondly remembered due to his relentless thirst for knowledge.
She remarked that he was genuinely exceptional; indeed, there was just one George, and for this reason, he often drew attention in various ways.
‘He was just a good guy. Curious beyond belief, always had questions he wanted answered. He brought huge personality to television [and] an insatiable appetite to know more.’
Liz had Ian Leslie, a previous colleague from 60 Minutes, join her, and he noted that it was George who provided the ‘essential energy’ that kept the news program running smoothly.
‘We needed a stand out, we needed a spark to get the audience on side,’ he said.
In our situation, we required a leader akin to a modern-day cowboy from the city, someone with a powerful and compelling voice. George served as the catalyst, igniting a spark that eventually propelled us to the great heights we reached.
Ian added that seeing his former colleague struck down with Alzheimer’s disease was ‘cruel’.
Expressing great sorrow, he stated, “Taking away the ability to speak and share stories from someone who cherished words so deeply is not only heartbreakingly unfair but also unbearably sad.
The tribute to the beloved television figure went on as rock musician Jimmy Barnes posted his reflections on Instagram as well.
Jimmy captioned a photo of George with a sweet tribute to the ‘wonderful man’.
‘We’re extremely saddened to hear that George Negus has passed away,’ Jimmy wrote.
As a devoted admirer, I’d have to say that George was an exceptional individual, known for his unapologetic honesty – he called things as he saw them, no sugarcoating. He embodied the essence of a true gentleman, always conducting himself with grace and dignity. Above all else, he had an infectious passion for music that was simply captivating.
‘He was a true original who will be missed by many. Sending much love from our family to Kirsty, Serge, Ned and all his family.
George presented 60 Minutes when the show launched in Australia in 1979, through to 1986.
Approximately five years back, he received a diagnosis of dementia. Since the end of 2021, he has resided in a nursing home located in the northern part of Sydney.
In a statement, his family said Negus ‘passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones’ in Sydney.
Even though illnesses such as Alzheimer’s have brought hardships upon our family, we’ve managed to create wonderful moments filled with laughter and joy more recently,” the statement read.
‘We also learnt a lot.’
Though his exceptional work in journalism, football, and environmental conservation is certain to earn him accolades, it’s equally important to remember him as a remarkable family man.
60 Minutes also shared the following tribute: “A beacon of journalism, an extraordinary broadcaster, and a cherished companion to countless.
With great sadness, we announce that legendary journalist George Negus, one of the founders of ’60 Minutes’, passed away at the age of 82 following his struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. The tales and moments he shared will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Prior to her husband’s passing, Kirsty Cockburn moved to a residence close to an aged care facility on the Northern Beaches where he lived, and made it a point to see him each day.
His long-time associates from 60 Minutes, journalists Ray Martin and Ian Leslie, had likewise paid him a visit in more recent times.
Leslie expressed that although everyone knew about Negus’ struggle with dementia, his passing was still an immense surprise, and he referred to him as a “dear brother.
‘It’s a very sad, sad moment. Lot of memories,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
In the year 1979, the three of us formed an incredibly strong connection as we joined forces for the first time. It so happened that I hadn’t previously crossed paths with George.
As instantaneous comrades, we bonded like long-lost brothers, for we recognized we were living through an unparalleled era in the realm of broadcasting. The profound honor we all held, our collective secret, was something we cherished and nurtured among ourselves.
‘So, it was like, all of a sudden, you had a couple of brothers.’
60 Minutes Australia’s Charles Wooley, a member since 1993, recounted that Negus played a significant role in popularizing the Aussie vernacular on Australian TV news programs.
‘Before that, we either spoke like the BBC or like Bob Menzies,’ Wooley told Daily Mail Australia.
Initially, George’s robust Aussie accent drew some surprise at ABC, yet it transformed into the signature style at 60 Minutes.
‘It worked and now we don’t have to ‘put on the dog’ in front of the camera.’
‘He slipped away from us a long time ago, but his legacy lives on in the Australian language of everyday broadcasting,’ Wooley added.
60 Minutes co-worker and esteemed television journalist Ray Martin, back in 1978, characterized Negus as an influential personality on Australian television.
Martin shared with 9News that the person was quite engaging, talkative, strongly-opinionated, amusing, and simply an outstanding individual.
‘Negus exuded strength, whether it was while sporting a moustache and casually slinging his jacket over his shoulder during wartime reporting or engaging with Margaret Thatcher in heated discussions. Such a dynamic individual he truly was, towering above the average.’
Martin added that 60 Minutes may not have achieved such great success on TV without the contributions of Negus.
‘He was very ethical and very honest but he also was a great storyteller,’ he added.
Nine’s director of television Michael Healy remembered Negus as one of Australia’s biggest stars.
Today, we bid farewell to one of Australia’s most distinguished storytellers. Watching a George Negus interview was an experience marked by thoughtfulness, intelligence, and composure. He had an uncanny ability to maintain control in every situation.
Fiona Dear, head of news and current affairs at Nine, remarked: ‘Much like other Australians, I spent my Sundays as a child tuning into George Negus’s show on 60 Minutes.’
He broadened our perspective by revealing the wonders of the world that lay beyond Australia, leading us to uncharted territories, and acquainting us with influential figures shaping society.
Approximately a few months prior to his passing, Ned, Negus’ son, shared a heartfelt message on social media in honor of Father’s Day, referring to him as ‘Negsy’, following a lovely family trip to the beach together.
On September 1st, the post included a picture showing a weakened Negus, donning a hat and flaunting his distinctive mustache, as he affectionately hugged his son.
‘I was hesitant to post this on LinkedIn, as it’s pretty personal,’ Ned wrote.
Reflecting on this, I came to understand that we’re all humans here, and it’s valuable to share our personal experiences and human realities within my professional circle.
Ned, being the Chief Commercial Officer for A-League soccer competitions, shared about his father’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis.
He rarely speaks these days, which is quite astonishing given his usual talkative nature,” he remarked.
‘Today is Father’s Day in Australia and we had a walk on the beach together.
He seemed uncertain as to the symbolic significance of this specific stroll, and at times hesitant about who he was accompanying on it.
‘At one point we stopped, he smiled broadly and then hugged me for quite some time.
It was a bit sad, but it was heartening to realize that even when words fail, actions can express feelings. I’ll always do what feels like love for you, Negsy. Love you too!
At the November 2020 memorial service for groundbreaking TV figure Gerald Stone, Negus was last seen in a significant public event. This followed the passing of Stone, who served as the initial 60 Minutes executive producer, at the age of 87.
As a native of Brisbane, I spent my early years as a dedicated high school educator. However, in my late twenties, I transitioned from the classroom to the world of journalism, contributing articles to esteemed publications such as The Australian. Following this, I had the opportunity to work on the pioneering program, This Day Tonight, for the ABC.
Negus functioned as the press secretary for Attorney-General Lionel Murphy under the brief tenure of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s Labor administration, and he was personally selected by Stone to aid in the creation of the 60 Minutes program.
1979 saw Stone selecting Negus, Leslie, and Ray Martin as the hosts for the news program, as Kerry Packer introduced the format from the U.S., broadcasting it on his Nine Network.
From 1986, he dedicated himself to the project, taking turns handling tasks with Leslie, Martin, Jana Wendt, and later on, Jeff McMullen, during the final stages of his service.
In the ’80s, 60 Minutes held an impressive viewership lead, capturing about one-third, and sometimes even more, of the nation’s TV viewers each Sunday evening at 7:30 pm.
In 1992, Negus served as the inaugural presenter for ABC’s global current events series titled “Foreign Correspondent.” He was at the helm of this program until 1999.
From 2002 to 2004, he hosted George Negus Tonight, which was formerly known as New Dimensions, on a nationwide broadcasting network.
In the following year, he started presenting Dateline on SBS, then joined Ten’s The Project as a frequent panelist. Later, he took over the hosting role for 6.30 alongside George Negus on the same network.
In 2015, Negus was honored with Membership in the Order of Australia, recognizing his notable contributions to the media sector through journalism and TV presentation, and for his dedicated efforts towards conservation and environmental protection.
Read More
- TOMI PREDICTION. TOMI cryptocurrency
- LOGX PREDICTION. LOGX cryptocurrency
- SPX PREDICTION. SPX cryptocurrency
- EUR UAH PREDICTION
- NEXA PREDICTION. NEXA cryptocurrency
- RTM PREDICTION. RTM cryptocurrency
- STEP PREDICTION. STEP cryptocurrency
- Why Katherine Renee Kane’s FBI departure is premature
- Lt. Erica Ortegas is what Star Trek: The Original Series needed
- JPY KRW PREDICTION
2024-10-15 14:20