Fiona McDonald: It’s a Knock Out, Wombat star dies after ‘torturous’ battle with motor neurone disease

Beloved Australian TV star Fiona McDonald has died after a torturous battle with motor neurone disease. She was 67.

The sad news was announced in a farewell note that she wrote herself but which was posted on social media after her death by her sister Kylie.

McDonald wrote that while she never wanted to die, “the thought of leaving my tortured body was a relief”.

McDonald was a constant presence on Australian TV in the ‘80s, hosting the popular game show It’s a Knock Out and appearing on children’s television showWombat with another famous Australian character, Aggro.

Her sister Jacki McDonald was a sidekick to Daryl Somers on Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

In her message, McDonald wrote: “Farewell my friends. My sister Kylie is posting this because I have left the building - Hopefully I’m looking down from a cloud.

“Last night brought an end to a very tough few months. Was very peaceful the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.”

McDonald, who leaves behind sons Ryan and Rafe, was diagnosed with MND in 2021.

MND affects nerves, causing them to degenerate and die and leading muscles to become weaker and weaker.

Eventually, the condition leads to paralysis and death.

Last year, McDonald, together with her sister, went on a round-Australia road trip she dubbed It’s A Big Lap to raise funds for research into the disease.

The GoFundMe for the trip raised almost $230,000.

“The last few months have been tough. Unable to swallow normal food, the tube feeding that should have sustained me didn’t work because my gut couldn’t tolerate any of the multiple brands of protein drinks. It went straight in and straight out,” McDonald wrote in her farewell post.

“I have been slowly starving, growing weaker and weaker. I’ve also developed terrible back pain because my muscles aren’t supporting my frame.

“The black humour that served me well through the first years of this journey turned to despair. I made the decision after much soul-searching to cease all medical support and finally go into hospital for end-of-life palliative care. When you love life as much as I do, it takes a great deal of courage to make choices that lead to farewell.“So let’s not call it goodbye as I hope to see you again on the other side. Until then: ‘May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rain fall softly upon your fields until we meet again, And may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.’“I carry your love and laughter with me and hope you’ll remember mine.”