Bettina ‘Tina’ Dalton, one of the original presenters who helped launch Getaway in 1992, has died on the Sunshine Coast on Monday after a short illness. The Emmy nominee was a much-loved figure on the Australian travel program and later built an award-winning career in natural history filmmaking.

Dalton is survived by her daughters, Pnina and Chana, along with her mother, sister and brother. She shared her life with Sydney businessman, art collector and philanthropist John Schaeffer until his death in 2020.

Her return to Getaway in 2023 came exactly 31 years after her first appearance on the show. After debuting on May 14, 1992, Dalton reunited with the program for a special episode that took viewers through Antarctica and surrounding areas aboard Scenic Eclipse, highlighting the region’s pristine landscape.

“When I got the call to present another episode of Getaway I knew I had to take the chance,” Dalton told nine.com.au at the time.

John Walsh, who served as Getaway’s executive producer for 25 seasons, said Dalton would be “greatly missed by the Getaway family”. In an online tribute, he wrote, “Very saddened to hear of the passing of Bettina ‘Tina’ Dalton one of the original cast members of Getaway in 1992,” Walsh wrote in a touching tribute shared online.

“Tina was a very engaging presenter with a deep love of nature and an effortless communication style that really made you lean in and listen.

“She went on to become a celebrated wildlife filmmaker and returned to Getaway in 2023, 31 years after her debut for a multi-part series on Antarctica.”

Former co-star Catriona Rowntree, who hosted Getaway for 30 years, also paid tribute, saying it was “so sad to hear the news, of the passing of a role model to many of us”.

“RIP dear Tina, the OG of Getaway,” she wrote in post on social media.

Before her death, Dalton was working as a wildlife documentary maker and producer at WildBear Entertainment, with production credits stretching across more than 30 years. Her career after Getaway included a range of senior production roles, and her work received nominations for both an Emmy Award and a Sundance Film Festival award.

WildBear Entertainment CEO Michael Tear reflected on Dalton’s “passion for social and environmental issues” in his tribute. “Our collective knowledge base about the planet is so much richer because of her work,” he wrote.

She was remembered as “clever, creative, visionary, and great fun”, and as both a colleague and friend who will be “sorely missed” by the team and the wider industry.

“My thoughts are now with her daughters and wider family,” he wrote.

Dalton is also being remembered as someone who “shone an important light” on the natural world.