Legendary tv present affairs journalist George Negus was by no means misplaced for phrases throughout his celebrated profession, however he has now been just about silenced by the ravages of Alzheimer’s illness.
Negus, one of many authentic 60 Minutes reporters when the present launched in Australia, was identified with dementia about 5 years in the past and since late 2021 has been residing in an aged care facility in Sydney.
The 82-year-old’s son Ned posted a touching Father’s Day tribute on social media to the person he calls ‘Negsy’ after a household outing to the seashore.
The publish was accompanied by a photograph of a frail Negus, sporting a cap and sporting his his trademark moustache, warmly embracing his son on September 1.
‘I used to be hesitant to publish this on LinkedIn, because it’s fairly private,’ Ned Negus wrote.
‘However then realised you are all people and there is at all times a spot for sharing human realities together with your skilled community.’
Ned, who’s chief business officer for the A-League soccer competitions, then referred to his father’s prognosis with Alzheimer’s illness.
‘He is now non verbal more often than not (mind-blowing for me but in addition any of you that know him),’ he wrote.
Legendary tv present affairs journalist George Negus has now been just about silenced by the ravages of Alzheimer’s illness. He’s pictured with son Ned Negus on Father’s Day
‘Immediately is Father’s Day in Australia and we had a stroll on the seashore collectively.
‘He was clearly unsure why this specific stroll was symbolic and typically unsure with whom he was strolling.
‘At one level we stopped, he smiled broadly after which hugged me for fairly a while.
‘It was unhappy, nevertheless it was uplifting to know that even when you may now not say what you’re feeling, you may nonetheless DO what you’re feeling.
‘Love you Negsy.’
The {photograph} was taken by Ned’s mom, Kirsty Cockburn, an award-winning journalist, creator, documentary filmmaker and Negus’s companion of just about 40 years.
‘[Mum] is by his facet most days serving to him by way of, serving to him bear in mind (even the slightest factor) and really feel,’ Ned wrote. ‘Large shout out to her too.’
Negus made his final notable public look on the November 2020 memorial service for tv trailblazer Gerald Stone after the inaugural 60 Minutes govt producer died aged 87.
Negus was identified with dementia about 5 years in the past and since late 2021 has been residing in a Sydney aged facility. He’s pictured with 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes
Negus’s son Ned posted this touching Father’s Day tribute on social media to the person he calls ‘Negsy’ after an intimate household outing to the seashore
Stone had chosen Negus, Ray Martin and Ian Leslie to entrance the information program in 1979 when Kerry Packer imported the format from the US to air on his 9 Community.
At its peak within the Eighties, 60 Minutes was a scores juggernaut, with a 3rd or extra of the nationwide tv viewers tuning in at 7.30 on a Sunday night.
Negus turned a family title as he criss-crossed the globe, typically reporting from battle zones, along with his thick moustache and open-neck shirts contributing to a knockabout picture.
The Negus presentation fashion turned so acquainted to tv viewers that Paul Hogan despatched him up with a George Fungus character on his eponymous present.
Stone as soon as mentioned of his creation that 60 Minutes made its mark by bringing large international tales to Australia, which meant sending his star expertise around the globe to report again what they’d seen.
‘Individuals won’t care what occurred in Nicaragua, however they could care about what George Negus did in Nicaragua,’ Stone mentioned.
Earlier than Negus’s well being deteriorated to a degree he wanted full-time care he and Cockburn had lived on the New South Wales mid-north coast for the reason that late Eighties.
Negus (proper) was one of many three authentic reporters on 60 Minutes when the present launched in Australia by the 9 Community in 1979, alongside Ray Martin (left) and Ian Leslie (centre)
Ned’s youthful brother son Serge, a producer on 60 Minutes, revealed their father’s Alzheimer’s prognosis to Every day Mail Australia in February 2022.
‘As a household, we’re sharing the brand new path we stroll as George faces the realities of his prognosis of dementia from Alzheimer’s illness,’ Serge mentioned.
‘We proceed to share fantastic household instances and are grateful for the care and help we have now had from prolonged household and pals over the previous few years who perceive our challenges.
‘George continues to offer and obtain the love and respect of us all. We admire all the nice needs from close to and much presently.’
Jana Wendt, who joined 60 Minutes in 1982, mentioned after her onetime colleague’s plight was made public the final time she had seen Negus was on the wake following Stone’s funeral.
‘On this state of affairs I do know he is acquired the help of a very loving household and that counts for lots,’ Wendt advised Every day Mail Australia.
‘So clearly we are able to simply want him properly and definitely want the household properly.’
Earlier than Negus’s well being deteriorated to a degree he wanted full-time care he companion Kirsty Cockburn had lived on the NSW mid north coast for the reason that late Eighties. The couple is pictured
Leslie mentioned he learnt of his previous buddy’s situation with ‘deep unhappiness’.
‘In a way it’s kind of like dropping one of many household,’ he mentioned.
‘However I am certain given George’s huge energy of character and that sharp thoughts of his he will be round for a very long time.
‘Someplace there he’ll know what is going on on and he’ll bear in mind the life that he is lived.’
Brisbane-born Negus was a highschool trainer till his late 20s when he started writing for newspapers together with The Australian, adopted by a stint on the ABC’s ground-breaking This Day Tonight.
The Negus presentation fashion turned so acquainted to tv audiences that Paul Hogan despatched him up with a George Fungus character on his eponymous present. He’s pictured on task
Negus served as press secretary to attorney-general Lionel Murphy throughout Gough Whitlam’s short-lived Labor authorities and was handpicked by Stone to assist set up 60 Minutes.
He labored on this system till 1986, sharing reporting duties with Leslie, Martin, Wendt and close to the top of his tenure Jeff McMullen.
Negus was the primary host of the ABC’s worldwide present affairs present International Correspondent, fronting this system from 1992 to 1999.
He offered George Negus Tonight, beforehand referred to as New Dimensions, on the nationwide broadcaster from 2002 to 2004.
The subsequent 12 months he started internet hosting Dateline on SBS earlier than turning into a daily panellist on Ten’s The Mission, adopted by presenting 6.30 with George Negus on the identical community.
Negus was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 ‘for vital service to the media as a journalist and tv presenter, and to conservation and the surroundings’.
