Ita Buttrose has been a familiar face in Australian media for decades, but lately, viewers are asking different questions. In a 2025 interview on A Current Affair, the 83-year-old revealed she uses a wheelchair and a walking stick due to a mobility issue she described as a frozen gait disorder.
Born: 17 January 1942 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Notable roles: Journalist, editor, television personality, author ·
Key advocacy: Medical education and health care ·
Awards: AC, OBE
Quick snapshot
- Uses walking stick and wheelchair (A Current Affair)
- In 2025 interview said she has “frozen gait disorder” (A Current Affair) (A Current Affair)
- Married to Alasdair Macdonald 1966–1978 (Britannica)
- No public confirmation of a specific underlying illness causing mobility issues
- Exact nature of her speech pattern remains unconfirmed as a medical condition
- Why she previously used a wheelchair at events before the 2025 interview
- Duration of her mobility issues before public disclosure
- Whether she has any other undisclosed health conditions
- 2005: Becomes Patron of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA)
- 2013: Named Australian of the Year (Britannica) (MDFA)
- 2024: Reports going to the gym three to four times a week (Australian Seniors)
- 2025: Confirms wheelchair use due to frozen gait disorder (A Current Affair) (MDFA)
- Buttrose continues public appearances with mobility aids
- Ongoing advocacy for macular degeneration awareness
- Future book or media projects expected
Five key biographical facts about Ita Buttrose, from her birth to her highest honour:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ita Clare Buttrose |
| Born | 17 January 1942 (age 83) |
| Occupation | Journalist, editor, television personality, author |
| Known for | Founding editor of Cleo magazine, editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly, Australian of the Year 2013 |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) |
Related: Julia Gillard · Chris Evert
Is Ita Buttrose in a wheelchair now?
Why does Ita Buttrose use a walking stick?
- In a 2025 interview on A Current Affair, Buttrose stated she cannot walk long distances without support and uses a walking stick for short trips (A Current Affair).
- She said her mobility problem began after back surgery and was diagnosed as a frozen gait disorder, which she described as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease (A Current Affair).
- Buttrose revealed she had suffered 12 falls before her specialist advised her not to walk without a chaperone and to use a wheelchair (Macular Disease Foundation Australia (patient story)).
What is Ita Buttrose’s mobility status?
- Buttrose said she uses a wheelchair for longer distances and finds it easier than walking unsupported (A Current Affair).
- She mentioned testing an electric wheelchair that can rise up and recline (A Current Affair).
- A 2025 report from The Conversation said Buttrose had undergone significant back surgery and now relies on a wheelchair (The Conversation (academic analysis)).
The pattern here is clear: Buttrose’s mobility decline is linked to a specific gait disorder and falls, not to a vague or secret illness. Her openness about the condition helps dispel online rumours.
Does Ita Buttrose have a lisp?
Is Ita Buttrose’s speech pattern a lisp?
- Buttrose has a distinctive way of speaking that some viewers have described online as a lisp.
- She addressed this in a media interview, stating it is not a lisp but a speech affectation she has always had (A Current Affair).
- No official medical diagnosis of a speech disorder has been publicly disclosed.
What this means: the perceived lisp is a personal vocal trait, not a health issue. Buttrose herself has clarified it, so the question is settled.
What is Ita Buttrose suffering from?
What illness does Ita Buttrose have?
- Buttrose has not disclosed a specific chronic illness beyond the mobility condition she described as frozen gait disorder (A Current Affair).
- She has spoken publicly about living with macular degeneration and has been Patron of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia since 2005 (MDFA).
- Online speculation about a serious underlying illness is not supported by confirmed sources. Buttrose maintains an active lifestyle – she told Australian Seniors in 2024 that she goes to the gym three to four times a week (Australian Seniors).
The trade-off: while the public naturally wants to know the cause of her mobility changes, Buttrose has chosen to share only what she is comfortable with. The absence of a named disease does not mean there is one.
Is Ita Buttrose still married?
Did Ita Buttrose ever marry?
- Buttrose was married to Alasdair Macdonald from 1966 until their divorce in 1978 (Britannica).
- She has not remarried and is currently single. Tony Jones (the Australian journalist) is not her partner – he is a former colleague at the ABC, and the two are often mistakenly linked.
The implication: Buttrose has been independent for decades. Her personal life is stable and has not been the subject of public turmoil.
Timeline of Ita Buttrose’s public health journey
- – Born in Sydney, Australia (Britannica)
- – Started career as copygirl at The Australian Women’s Weekly (Britannica)
- – Becomes Patron of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA)
- – Named Australian of the Year (Britannica)
- – Reports regular gym attendance and continues public advocacy (Australian Seniors)
- – In a televised interview, confirms wheelchair use, frozen gait disorder, and previous falls (A Current Affair)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Ita Buttrose was married to Alasdair Macdonald (1966–1978) (Britannica)
- Buttrose uses a walking stick in recent public appearances (A Current Affair)
- She has written a book titled Life is for living (2023) (Australian Seniors)
- She has a distinctive speech pattern she has addressed as not a lisp (A Current Affair)
- She has been Patron of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia since 2005 (MDFA)
What remains unclear
- Whether Buttrose has a specific diagnosed illness beyond the gait disorder
- Whether her speech pattern is a lisp or another medical condition
- Exact reason for using a wheelchair at events prior to the 2025 disclosure
“I didn’t expect to be in a wheelchair. I was embarrassed at first.”
– Ita Buttrose, A Current Affair (2025)
“I go to the gym three or four times a week. I don’t let age stop me.”
– Ita Buttrose, Australian Seniors (2024)
Buttrose clarified that frozen gait disorder can be a symptom of Parkinson’s disease, but it does not mean she has Parkinson’s (A Current Affair).
For Australians who grew up watching Buttrose on television, the shift from able-bodied media icon to wheelchair user can be unsettling. But her willingness to explain the details – the falls, the back surgery, the frozen gait – shows that aging with dignity means being honest about limitations. The takeaway is clear: adapt, advocate, and keep moving forward.
mdfoundation.com.au, en.wikipedia.org, x.com, youtube.com, instagram.com, anu.edu.au, facebook.com
For further verified details on her mobility challenges and career milestones, see Ita Buttrose’s wheelchair and health update.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ita Buttrose best known for?
She is best known as the founding editor of Cleo magazine and later editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly (Britannica).
How old is Ita Buttrose?
Born 17 January 1942, she is 83 years old as of 2025 (Britannica).
What book did Ita Buttrose write recently?
In 2023 she published Life is for living, a memoir about resilience and ageing (Australian Seniors).
Did Ita Buttrose have children?
Yes, she has two children from her marriage to Alasdair Macdonald (Britannica).
Is Ita Buttrose still active in media?
She appears occasionally on television and writes, but her main focus is health advocacy (MDFA).
Why is Ita Buttrose a Companion of the Order of Australia?
She was awarded the AC in 2019 for eminent service to the media, to community health, and to gender equality (Britannica).
What health condition does Ita Buttrose have?
She has publicly described a frozen gait disorder, which affects her ability to walk, and she lives with macular degeneration (A Current Affair; MDFA).
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Brief, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.