Legendary Australian rock singer John Farnham is “on the road to recovery” after being hospitalised two weeks ago for a respiratory infection.
“John is doing OK … he had this chest infection off the back of the tumour removal out of his mouth. But he is doing OK, under medical supervision on the road to recovery,” Nine’s entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins told the Today Show on Tuesday morning.
On set to discuss a “powerful”, new authorised documentary, John Farnham: Finding The Voice, Wilkins said the much-loved star was drawing strength from everyone.
“But it is a long road. Thankfully they found the damn thing before it got any worse.
“John is so buoyed by the love and support, set this website up where people can leave support and messages for him. He knows how much affection and love there is for him out there.”
In a “lovely” moment on Tuesday, Wilkins said Farnham was celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary with wife, Jill. The couple wed on April 11, 1973.
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On March 31, Farnham, 73, was rushed back to hospital amid ongoing rehabilitation from extensive cancer surgery in August last year, where he had part of his jaw removed.
The hours-long operation involved removing a tumour and then reconstructive surgery.
Ms Farnham said her husband was being treated for a respiratory infection.
“John continues his recovery following last year’s successful surgery,” she said in a statement.
“He’s always been a strong and determined person with everything he’s ever done and we are all so very proud of him. He is responding well to the specialist care he’s receiving.”
After his surgery, Farnham spent weeks in rehabilitation, where he wowed nurses and other staff with his jokes and good humour, his sons said in October.
Son Rob credited his mother for helping the family through a tough time.
“She is an amazing woman, and has been strong through this whole thing and held us together at times,” he said.
The Farnham family said the singer was receiving “ongoing treatment, care, and rehabilitation support over recent months from his medical team” and was comfortable.
“The family would like reiterate their appreciation for all the medical staff that have attended to John over the past six months and for all the kind messages … from across Australia and the world,” the statement said.
Ahead of last year’s surgery, Farnham said a cancer diagnosis was something many people faced each day “and countless others have walked this path before me”.
His diagnosis came three years after he suffered a health scare and was hospitalised with a severe kidney infection.
Farnham shot to the top of the charts with his 1986 album, Whispering Jack.
“[It was] 25 weeks at No.1,” Wilkins reminded fans on Tuesday.
“It was the highest-selling album in Australia by an Australian artist, nearly a couple of million copies.”
“He got the double shot, released on vinyl and then CDs came along.”
Whispering Jack also produced one of the nation’s best-known anthems, You’re the Voice, and propelled Farnham to hero status.
He has received 19 ARIA awards, and was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1996, and Australian of the Year in 1987.
The feature-length documentary will premiere nationally in cinemas on May 18 for a limited season.
