Channel 7’s Mel McLaughlin will front the network’s Commonwealth Games coverage but has spoken out about something much more important.
Channel 7 sports presenter Mel McLaughlin has opened up on her continued struggles after the death of her sister Tara to lung cancer in 2015.
The 42-year-old had a spread in The Australian Women’s Weekly and spoke openly about her sister, a NSW Police senior constable who passed away at the age of 39. She left behind two sons.
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Over the years, McLaughlin has spoken about how difficult it still is to speak about her sister.
McLaughlin has supported the Lung Foundation Australia as an ambassador, including hosting the “Hope In Every Breath” ball in March.
She revealed on Instagram at the time the motivation was out of tribute to her sister.
“Thank you to the brilliant minds working to save lives. you know, so babies don’t lose their young mammas for example,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.
“A gentle reminder that many who die of lung cancer have never smoked. But it doesn’t matter if you do. No-one deserves lung cancer.”
But going deeper in the magazine profile, McLaughlin said it still hurt.
“There’s literally not a day where she’s not in our hearts and thoughts. Every day is hard. Watching our sister’s kids grow up without a mum,” McLaughlin told the magazine.
“It took me years to get involved. But the mortality rate is disgusting. The Foundation needs more money and attention. Maybe I’m not doing enough, but I’m trying.”
McLaughlin also spoke on The Morning Show on Thursday about the profile and had to take a moment when asked about Tara and how she inspired McLaughlin in her life.
“She inspired me before anyway,” McLaughlin admitted.
“Anyone who knew her knew just what a spectacular human being she was and we see her spirit through her children every day.
“We all try to live I guess, with her in mind and anyone who’s going through that grieving process you never really get over it.
“She guides a lot of my decisions and obviously always in my thoughts and so she’s why want to do more to really for the Lung Foundation, because her story, she died at 39 which is ridiculous, never smoked and there’s a lot of research still to be done.”
McLaughlin also reiterated she was the host who caught Covid last Boxing Day, which forced Channel 7 to replace all of its hosts for its cricket coverage in Melbourne.
It meant Mel, Ricky Ponting, Ian Botham, Simon Katich, James Brayshaw, Alison Mitchell, Tim Lane, Greg Blewett, Matthew Hayden, Trent Copeland, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and Peter Lalor all had to stand down.
The Big Bash League hosts had to step in for the first two days of the Test.
Originally published as ‘Every day is hard’: Mel McLaughlin pays tribute to late sister
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