Wednesday 5 October 2022 04:03 AM ABC presenter Julia Baird is forced off air as she faces another major health ... trends now
Popular ABC presenter and author Julia Baird revealed her recent mysterious absence from TV screens has been to prepare for surgery.
Baird wrote in 2015 that she had a tumour the 'size of a basketball' removed from her stomach, which had grown out of advanced ovarian cancer.
On Tuesday, the 55-year-old journalist and author posted a long and heartfelt message on her Instagram account, which she also put on Twitter, explaining why she had not been seen hosting the ABC news talk show The Drum.
ABC presenter and author Julia Baird has written a heartfelt post about why she has been absent from TV screens
'To all of those who have written to ask why I have not been on the Drum in the past few months, thank you,' Baird wrote.
'I am due to go in for more surgery this week, and it will take a good while to recover, so I will not be back on air until next year.'
Ms Baird said she would also be 'taking a break' from her regular columns in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and her recent appointment of editor-at-large of Harper's Bazaar magazine.
She thanked all those who had been wishing her well.
'I am also grateful for all of the kind and encouraging messages you lot send,' she wrote.
'I try to get back to everyone, but if I fail to, please know, I read them and am buoyed by them.'
Baird wrote that she is undergoing surgery and won't be on air again until next year
She finished the post by writing: 'Anyway, signing out for a bit, and sending love.'
Colleagues, including some of the biggest names in Australian journalism, and other public figures, flocked to her Twitter feed to wish her all the best.
'Oh I am so sorry to read this Julia,' wrote Nine news presenter Georgie Dent.
'The torment your body has endured is so cruel. That your mind and heart remain searingly sharp and gloriously generous is inexplicable. Sending you and your clan every ounce of strength, love and fierce
