Australian TV star and former Channel Seven presenter reveals he’s facing HOMELESSNESS

One of Australia’s most popular broadcasters is now facing homelessness amid a construction nightmare on his home.

Mike Higgins, who was the face of Channel 7’s nightly news in Queensland from 1969 until 1988, is currently battling cancer while attempting to finish construction on his incomplete home.

The ‘building nightmare’ has drained the 76-year-old’s bank account and left him needing $70,000 to fix the ‘unfinished, uncertified, mouldy structure’.

‘It’s been tremendously stressful, more stressful than all the years of my cancer and bone marrow treatment,’ he told the Courier Mail. 

The divorced dad-of-three is currently staying in the spare bedroom of a friend’s  Eumundi home and has been on a disability pension for over a decade.

In 2008, he was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma called cutaneous lymphoma which causes tumours on the skin.

‘It’s true I’ve had a terrible time, but I think it’s always better for mind, body and spirit to accentuate the positive.’

Flashback: Mike, now 76, was the face of Channel 7’s nightly news in Queensland from 1969 until 1988

While he’s not able to discuss the details of his construction battle for legal reasons, Higgins’ friend Jenny Warner has started a GoFundMe page to help the former broadcaster complete his home. 

‘A traumatic one–and–a half year building nightmare has left Mike with an unfinished house and a drained bank account,’ she wrote, before criticising the building industry.

‘His house, which should have been finished a year ago, is still an incomplete, uncertified, mouldy house frame,’ she continued.

‘To make matters worse, Mike’s legal advice is that he has no legal avenues of redress, can’t discuss the matter, and now has to find $70,000 to finish the job.

‘Mike was so trusting for so long. Unfortunately he’s lost almost everything.’

‘It’s been tremendously stressful’: Mike (left) is currently battling cancer while attempting to finish construction on his incomplete home

Warner also stressed that Higgins has supported countless charities over the years and even sponsored seven children overseas through the Save the Children Fund.

‘Mike has always given freely of his money, time and assets to family, friends and even strangers in need,’ she stressed. ‘I think it’s his time to receive.’

From his two decades fronting Channel 7’s nightly news in Queensland, Mike was dubbed the state’s ‘best known anchorman’ for years.

He was known for his friendly demeanour both on and off the camera.

‘Some newsreaders were disdainful of their audience,’ he told Adelaide Now in 2013.

‘I knew one who was asked for an autograph he just said ‘f**k off’. I was horrified. But I talked to people as a friend every night and I always kept that in mind.’

Fan fave: From his two decades fronting Channel 7’s nightly news in Queensland, Mike was dubbed the state’s ‘best known anchorman’ for years