VETERAN broadcaster George Negus has died at the age of 82 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Hailed a “legendary broadcaster” in tributes, Negus was the founding reporter of Australian current affairs programme 60 Minutes.
He presented the show on Nine from 1979 to 1986.
Often reporting from war zones, Negus became a household name – recognisable by his trademark moustache.
A tribute from the show posted on X reads: “An icon of journalism. A legendary broadcaster. A friend to many.
“We will always treasure the stories and memories he gave us all.”
Negus started his career as a teacher before turning his hand to journalism, writing for The Australian and Australian Financial Review before breaking into TV.
He became a reporter for ABC’s This Day Tonight in the 1960s and later served as press secretary to attorney-general Lionel Murphy.
Brisbane-born Negus then helped establish 60 Minutes, which he stayed with until 1986.
The TV star went on to front many shows including George Negus Tonight and Australia Talks on the ABC, Nine’s Today and different news programmes on the Ten Network.
In 2015, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 “for significant service to the media as a journalist and television presenter, and to conservation and the environment”.
Negus was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s five years ago and had been living in a care facility in Sydney since 2021
His family confirmed his death on Tuesday, saying he “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones after a gracious decline from Alzheimer’s disease, all the while with his trademark smile”.
They added: “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 too so he would be happy about that.”
Last month one of his sons, Ned, had revealed his dad had become “mostly non-verbal”.
He wrote: “For those of you who don’t know, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around five years ago.
“He’s now non verbal most of the time (mind-blowing for me but also any of you that know him).”
Negus is survived by his wife Kirsty Cockburn and sons Serge and Ned.
