Exploring the Family Connection: Are Fiona MacDonald and Jacki MacDonald Related? Insights on Her Sisters as TV Host Passes Away at 67

Australian personality Fiona MacDonald has sadly passed away at the age of 67 due to motor neurone disease (MND). The former television host’s sister, Kylie Thynne, shared an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, October 3, 2024, on Fiona’s behalf. The post included the following message:

“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. It was very peaceful; the boys and Kylie stayed with me to say goodbye.”

Fiona MacDonald was the younger sister of former TV host Jacki MacDonald. According to The Guardian, Fiona received her MND diagnosis in November 2021, a rare neurodegenerative condition that impaired her movement and speech. She became widely recognized for her roles in children’s programming, notably hosting Wombat and the game show It’s a Knockout.

Fiona MacDonald and her sister Jacki’s Retirement from Television

In her heartfelt farewell, Fiona shared that her last few months were quite challenging, stating she was unable to swallow solid food and was “slowly starving, growing weaker and weaker.”She also spoke of developing back pain due to muscle deterioration.

The television host reflected:

“The black humor 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 supports 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.”

The post included two touching photographs, one featuring MacDonald with her sons, Harry and Rafe, and another of her standing beside her sister, Kylie.

Fiona’s older sister, Jacki, is also a well-known television personality, having gained fame as a co-host of Hey Hey It’s Saturday alongside Daryl Somers. After marrying Dr. Michael Pitney, she stepped away from television.

In a past interview with Woman’s Day, Jacki discussed her decision to leave the industry:

“When I had children, I thought it would be best for them to not have a mother that everybody knew, that they’d have to stick up for at school.”

In 2013, Jacki played a vital role in launching Brisbane’s popular dining venue, Eat Street Markets. With her keen interest in real estate, she has been involved in renovations and house flipping since her twenties.

Like her sister Jacki, Fiona MacDonald also stepped back from the spotlight after her marriage, pursuing a career in the wine industry. She authored a book titled Hill of Grace: 150 Years of Henschke Under Southern Skies.

In an interview with Woman’s Day, the MacDonald sisters shared about their upbringing on an “outback sheep station,”a ranch focused on raising sheep for meat and wool. With no television, they captivated themselves through “shaggy dog stories and silly jokes.”

Renowned producer Rob McKnight commented on the talent of the MacDonald sisters:

“It’s very unusual for sisters to become big stars in light entertainment, especially on separate shows. The MacDonalds connected with audiences because they had charisma, chemistry, and talent in spades. We enjoyed watching them and we came to love them.”

While information about Kylie Thynne remains limited, she joined Fiona MacDonald on a fundraising journey known as the Big Lap of Australia. Together, they traveled over 15,000 kilometers in 40 days, raising a remarkable $100,000.

On August 24, 2023, Fiona honored her younger sister with a heartfelt Instagram tribute:

“Kylie Heather Thynne, born 8 years after me, looks like smiling fairy floss or stardust, but she is strong. She’s the one that nods and says yes, but then does what she was going to do anyway. Typical youngest sister material.”

Since her MND diagnosis, Fiona MacDonald dedicated herself to raising awareness about the condition. She launched a fundraising initiative titled ‘It’s a Big Leap for MND‘ with the motto ‘I Am Making a Difference,’ which has successfully raised over $225,000.

Fiona MacDonald is survived by her sons, Harry and Rafe, and her sisters, Kylie and Jacki.

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