Rebecca Wilson

Rebecca Louise Wilson (22 December 1961 – 7 October 2016) was an Australian sports journalist, radio and television broadcaster and personality, known for the comic television talk sports show The Fat, in which she appeared regularly with host Tony Squires. She was a panellist on numerous television programs including Beauty and the Beast, Sunrise and The Footy Show. She worked in both the newspaper and television industries for over 20 years and won a Kennedy Award in 2013.

Biography Early life Wilson was born in Brisbane in 1961. She also worked for ABC Television as a host and reporter on the show Saturday Afternoon Sports, and was later Media Manager for Super League for four years, a role which she later described as "the most interesting time in my career". Following this, she moved to News Limited as General Manager of their Sydney Olympics Division and then Project Manager for the agency's Rugby World Cup coverage. Wilson's opinion pieces regarding the A-League have been controversial and faced significant criticism. She leaked the names and faces of 198 individuals who were banned from entering football stadiums by the Football Federation Australia. As a result, Wilson received death threats from the public and the Football Federation issued a statement urging football fans to refrain from threatening her. For many years she was an ambassador for the Sydney Swans, but she claimed this did not influence her writings

She was a co-host on the Vega 95.3 breakfast show with Tony Squires and Mikey Robins. In early 2009, Wilson announced that she was leaving Vega and in October it was announced that Vega would no longer continue with the breakfast show.

Wilson was a regular panellist on SportsNight with James Bracey on Sky News Australia.

Awards In 2013, Wilson was a joint finalist in the Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism in the Print/Text News Report category. The same year, she was a joint finalist in the Kennedy Awards For Excellence in New South Wales Journalism in the Outstanding Investigative Reporting category and the Splash of the Year category. Her team won the Splash of the Year category. She was awarded 2016 Australian Sports Commission Media Award for Lifetime Achievement, and later that year, a Walkley Award for Journalistic Leadership.

On 12 December 2021, Rebecca Wilson was posthumously inducted to the Sydney Cricket Ground Media Hall of Honour, alongside 11 others added to the inaugural 15 media personalities who were first celebrated in 2014.

Television career Year(s) Program Network Role 2013–2016 SportsNight with James Bracey Sky News Live Panellist 2010 Sunrise Seven Network Daily commentary on sports stories 2010 2010 Commonwealth Games Foxtel Roving reporter 2008 2008 Summer Olympics Seven Network Ceremonies 2005 The Footy Show (rugby league) Nine Network Panellist 2004 2004 Summer Olympics Seven Network Opening ceremony 2004 110% Tony Squires Seven Network Co-host 2000–2003 The Fat ABC Television Panellist 1992–1995 Saturday Afternoon Sports ABC Television Compere She was married to television producer Howard Sacre from 1990 to 2003, with whom she had two children. Her second marriage, in 2012, was to former News Limited chief executive, John Hartigan.

Wilson was a repeat offender on driving charges including drink driving and driving without a licence.

Death Wilson died at her family home in Sydney on 7 October 2016 from breast cancer.

Her death came as a shock to many people around her because she had kept her diagnosis a secret. Her funeral was held at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 14 October 2016.

Wilson is survived by her husband John and two sons.