"A wonderful human being": Tributes flow for George Negus
Tributes have poured in for George Negus, a founding presenter of Nine's 60 Minutes and ABC's Foreign Correspondent, following his death at age 82.
News of the broadcaster's death was announced by his family in an emotional statement saying that he had died peacefully surrounded by loved ones after a "gracious decline" from Alzheimer's disease.
His family also said while Negus would be celebrated for his "unique contribution to journalism, football, and the environment" he would also want to be remembered for the "incredible family man he was".
"To us, 'Negsy' was the greatest father, grandfather, and partner there ever was," they said in the statement.
"We created a beautiful life together and we will miss him dearly.
"We would ask for privacy and time to farewell George in our own way with family, and his and our closest friends."
Now, tributes have poured in from fellow colleagues, with TV personality Ray Martin saying that Negus was "more than a colleague, he was a mate".
"He was probably the strongest TV character I can remember on Australian television," Martin said.
"He was outrageous, he was charismatic, he was loud, he was heavily opinionated, he was funny but he was just a great bloke."
Fellow journalist Liz Hayes has honoured him for being a "trailblazer" in Australian journalism, and praised his "larger than life" personality.
"George always had an insatiable appetite for information, but he was a regular guy too," Hayes said.
"This is a guy who loved the cooking segment on the Today show, this is a guy who enjoyed sport and he was a family man."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute to Negus, remembering him as "a giant of Australian journalism".
"His courage, curiosity and integrity gave millions of Australians a sense of the big issues on 60 Minutes, and a window to the world through Foreign Correspondent," he said.
"George sought and served the truth with steely determination and a twinkle in his eye, and along the way, he made even the smallest TV screen feel that much bigger.
"He was a wonderful human being and his loss will be deeply felt by so many Australians.
"We offer his family the heartfelt condolences of our nation. May he rest in peace."
Negus is survived by his partner Kirsty, his two sons Ned and Serge as well as the rest of his family.
Images: Nine News