Beloved TV weatherman and political candidate Mike Bailey, 71, dies surrounded by family days after suffering a stroke
- The long-time ABC and Seven weatherman passed away last night at age 71
- He had been in a coma after suffering a stroke at home earlier this month
- Bailey was surrounded by family including his partner of 35 years, Helena
- The TV veteran unsuccessfully attempted a political career at the 2007 election
- He was later Chairman of the Wests Tigers NRL team and Wests Ashfield club
Veteran Sydney TV weatherman Mike Bailey passed away last night surrounded by his family, having suffered a stroke earlier this month.
The 71-year-old appeared on Sydney TV screens for nearly four decades, but was best known as the weather presenter on ABC Sydney’s 7.00pm new bulletin from 1985 until 2007.
Bailey joined the ABC as a cadet journalist at the ABC in 1968, before leaving to work at Channel Seven for 13 years until his return to the national broadcaster.
After retiring from the ABC in 2007 he returned to presenting the weather again during a brief stint on Channel Nine until he was let go in 2009.
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Mike Bailey appeared on Sydney TV screens for nearly four decades, presenting the weather on the ABC, Seven and Nine
Bailey married Helena, also known as ‘Miss Helena’ from Romper Room, in 1986. They remained together for 35 years until his death
Mr Bailey in his most familiar role, as the weatherman on ABC Sydney’s 7pm news bulletin
He also attempted a political career in 2007 when he unsuccessfully took on Joe Hockey in the Federal seat of North Sydney.
Bailey was married to Helena, famously known as ‘Miss Helena’ from her days hosting Channel Seven’s children’s show Romper Room, for 35 years. They had one child together, a son named Michael.
He suffered a stroke at their home in early June and had been in hospital in a coma until his death.
In more recent years, Bailey had been Chairman of the Wests Ashfield club in 2011, and later the Wests Tigers and Wests Magpies clubs. The roles followed on from his lifelong support of the Western Suburbs Magpies team.
‘The news of Mike’s passing is devastating,’ Wests Ashfield CEO Simon Cook said. ‘Mike was a mentor, a friend and a beautiful human being.
‘The staff and I will miss his smiling face, his wisdom, loyalty and his unwavering support.’
Mr Bailey in a campaign appearance during his failed attempt to win the Federal seat of North Sydney for the Labor Party from Joe Hockey in 2007
Bailey was a passionate supporter of the Western Suburbs Magpies, becoming chairman of the Wests Ashfield club and the Wests Tigers joint venture. He’s pictured here with ‘Mark the Magpie’ and veteran radio commentator, Frank Hyde
Last year Bailey was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to rugby league and the community.
A devoted Catholic, Bailey wrote a piece for The Catholic Weekly in 2016 marking the 30th anniversary of his marriage to Helena.
‘Working to achieve that happy ending [a long marriage] doesn’t come as easily as it might appear through the pages of novels dealing with romance,’ he wrote.
‘It requires a daily effort to continue demonstrating qualities of love and involvement that originally attract people to become involved with their partners.’
