Simmone Jade Mackinnon, a veteran actress from the Australian drama McLeod's Daughters, paid tribute to her late co-star Rachael Carpani on Monday, August 25, 2026, marking what would have been Carpani's 46th birthday. Mackinnon, 53, posted a throwback video on social media featuring previously unseen footage of the pair sharing moments on the set of the Channel Nine series. The clip showed Carpani during a break from filming, joking with Mackinnon about nearing the end of her scenes.
Mackinnon accompanied the video with a touching message: "This morning I whispered to the winds of the southern skies... 'Take my love and birthday wishes to my friend, who resides up there. Wrap yourself around her, give her a birthday hug from me.' Happy heavenly birthday Carpo… sure do miss you."
Carpani, who died on December 7, 2025, after a prolonged battle with chronic illness, starred alongside Mackinnon on McLeod's Daughters from 2003 to 2008. Other former cast members, including Michala Banas and Brett Tucker, offered messages of support in the comments section of Mackinnon's post.
It was revealed last year that Carpani had managed her battle with severe pain, including during her time on McLeod's Daughters, due to endometriosis. She had spoken about the intense physical demands of her role as Jodi, a character working on a cattle station, which exacerbated her condition.
In a 2024 interview with Stellar Magazine, Carpani described the pain as "unbelievably and indescribably painful," particularly when riding horses while experiencing a flare-up. She explained her decision to keep her condition private in the early 2000s, stating, "In 2001, you didn’t announce to a crew of 80 men, 'I’m sorry, I’ve got endometriosis. I feel like I’m being stabbed in the stomach. I’ll need five minutes.'"
Carpani utilized ice packs to manage her discomfort and concealed surgical scars from abdominal surgery from the wardrobe department. Her family confirmed her death, stating she passed away "unexpectedly but peacefully."
Carpani received a Silver Logie nomination for Most Popular Actress and the Gold Logie in 2007.
