Beloved star of children’s TV shows Wombat and Agro reveals shock health diagnosis

Fiona MacDonald is one of television’s most beloved entertainers. 

Best known for her time on children’s shows Agro’s Cartoon Connection and Wombat, which ruled the television airwaves in the 1980s and 1990s, the star is now fighting a health battle. 

The TV host, who also rose to national attention on madcap gameshow It’s a Knockout, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). 

She first noticed the symptoms prior to 2021, when she learned she had the neurological disease, which causes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to progressively fail. 

‘I noticed in July that I was having trouble speaking clearly, particularly if I was tired,’ she tells the Sydney Morning Herald. 

‘I ignored this for a while but realised it could be something sinister… everything was looked at until finally, they came to the terrible conclusion that it could only be motor neurone disease,’ she added. 

Fiona explained that, ‘this is not a disease for the faint-hearted’ and explained the ‘cruel’ illness is ‘stealing the power of all muscles inch by inch, until you can’t walk, can’t hold hands, can’t talk, swallow and breathe. Then you die’.

The legend is embarking on a 15,000-kilometre drive around Australia in the hopes of raising $100,000, ‘to support the work of neurologist Professor Dominic Rowe – a leader in his field.’

Fiona is the sister of well known 1980s television personality Jacki MacDonald who was best known as one of the hosts of the popular variety show Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

The TV host, who also rose to national attention on madcap gameshow It’s a Knockout, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Pictured with Agro 

The legend is embarking on a 15,000-kilometre drive around Australia in the hopes of raising $100,000 for MND research. Pictured on TV in the 1980s

Fiona, who found fame presenting on such shows as Good Morning Australia and Burke’s Backyard, eventually left the bright lights of television behind for a career in public relations.

She worked as both a business development manager and PR and communication manager for wine marketers Fine Wine Partners. 

They managed campaigns for such labels as Bollinger and Henschke Hill of Grace. 

Fiona also handled the PR for the Wine List of the Year Awards and Court Master of Sommeliers.

Leaving the organisation in 2015, Fiona set up her own PR consultancy firm Wine Chronicles that same year.

Fiona, who found fame presenting on such shows as Good Morning Australia and Burke’s Backyard, eventually left the bright lights of television behind for a career in public relations