It is with a heavy heart that I share the incredibly sad news of Rob Brough’s daughter passing away. She bravely fought an aggressive form of cancer, and while her strength was inspiring, sadly she lost her battle. My thoughts are with Rob and his family during this devastating time. It’s a reminder to cherish every moment and prioritize health and wellbeing.
Jess Willmott, a mother of three, sadly passed away on Thursday. She had recently been told her breast cancer was in remission, but then quickly developed an aggressive brain tumor.
She passed away not long after her father, age 71, retired from his broadcasting job in Queensland in late 2024. He made this difficult decision to have more time with her and her children.
Jess’ husband, Tammen, shared the sad news on a GoFundMe page created to help the family, explaining that he had become her full-time caregiver.
‘Jess was deeply loved – as a wife, a mother, a friend, and an extraordinary human,’ he wrote.
Her absence leaves a huge void in our lives, and we’re struggling to express the depth of our grief as a family.
He praised her strength, courage, and ability to bounce back, and expressed gratitude to everyone in the community who supported them while she was sick.
From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this adventure. Whether you’ve offered a kind word, a prayer, a donation, or simply stood with us, your support has meant the world and carried us through more than you could possibly imagine. I’m truly humbled by your generosity.
Ian Brough has been a regular on Australian TV since the 1970s. He hosted the evening news on Channel Seven for viewers in the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay, and Mackay areas for many years, but he hasn’t been on air since last year.
He shared that he had taken a significant amount of time off work to support Jess and help with raising her three young children while they lived on the Sunshine Coast.
Speaking to the ABC in 2025, Brough explained his decision to walk away from the newsroom.
Four years ago, our daughter Jess received a breast cancer diagnosis, which was very shocking for us,” he shared on ABC Sunshine Coast radio in September.
We reached a difficult point where things weren’t going well, and we didn’t have many choices left, he said.
Leaving work to be with her and her family felt like the natural thing to do.
Brough has spent his time helping to care for Jess’s three children – Indigo, Milla, and Madden.
He shared that watching his children grow up and then getting to know his grandchildren was one of life’s greatest joys.
The television personality experienced a devastating loss nearly thirty years ago when his three-year-old son, Sam, unexpectedly passed away.
While Brough was away, Nathan Spurling and Joanne Desmond took over his role presenting Seven’s regional news updates for the Sunshine Coast, which includes Cairns.
Brough started his career on the radio in the 1970s, and later transitioned to television, working with both ABC and Channel Nine.
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2026-02-11 11:37