Australian of the Year Neale Daniher’s daughter Bec describes her dad’s decision to take his fight against motor neurone disease public as “very gutsy”.
That choice, soon after he was diagnosed in 2013 with the disease that carries a life expectancy of 27 months post-diagnosis and claims two Australians a day, has not only helped raise $115 million for MND research and care initiatives. It has inspired many Australians aware of his battle to face adversity with courage.
Neale Daniher, with wife Jan, being named the 2025 Australian of the Year by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“When Dad was diagnosed there were no treatments and no cure and no real funding to change that,” Bec Daniher said. “We have seen such a shift… it has just brought hope back into the picture and hope is a powerful emotion. You need to have it.”
Nowadays, whenever Brisbane Lions’ premiership coach Chris Fagan feels a little sorry for himself he only needs to look at the collection of FightMND beanies (the most visible product of the FightMND campaign) in his office at the Gabba to rediscover perspective.
Fagan, who began his AFL career with Daniher at Melbourne and remains a friend, said the 63-year-old had set an example for everybody on how best to deal with life’s inevitable adversities.
“There is still plenty of fight in him, which is amazing to witness,” Fagan said.
Fagan said the story should be told in every school as his mind and spirit stayed strong while disease attacked his body. “[His story] talks about a way of life and coping with adversity,” Fagan said.
Football luminaries are often awestruck by Daniher’s outlook but say it’s consistent with his personality.
“He is an incredible man. There is nothing that hasn’t been said but by the same token you can never say too much [to praise him],” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said.
“What blows everyone away is how can he be so selfless in his approach to this [cause] knowing that he won’t benefit but maybe the next generation will. I doubt there has been a better example of a selfless pursuit.”
As with anything Daniher related, humour is never far away and Lyon laughs when told that Tassie Devils CEO and Richmond great Brendon Gale responded to the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, by describing Daniher as a saint.
The blue Big Freeze beanies are always out in force at the MCG as people support the FightMND campaign. Credit: Getty Images
“[I’m] not sure that I thought that when he arrived [to coach Melbourne in 1998],” Lyon quipped. “What a legend. He had no time for anyone feeling sorry for themselves. That just wasn’t in his makeup.”
The pride and admiration Anthony Daniher has for his brother is evident as he describes the recognition as “bloody fantastic”. He doesn’t sugarcoat the effort it has taken Neale and those close to him to lead this campaign while he fought to retain his sense of self.
“It’s never an easy journey. It’s a wretched disease and it tipped their whole family’s life upside down. Neale reset and they have all followed him in his journey. Maybe it is his calling in life,” Anthony Daniher said.
Bec says while being with him when he was recognised as Australian of the Year was special and unforgettable, the decision to accept the honour was reached by the family to broaden the campaign’s reach and to send a message to the MND community.
“He is a humble farmer at heart,” Bec said. “The MND community have a tough fight ahead of them, and it is a moment we can celebrate and say Australia is listening and Australia is right behind us. We will continue to help find an answer. We have come so far in 10 years, but we are not there yet.”
David Neitz played the peak years of his career at Melbourne under Daniher and knew he could be a tough taskmaster, but his admiration for Daniher has only grown. He knows all Australians will benefit from understanding Daniher’s purpose.
Neale Daniher and daughter Bec at the Big Freeze Fight MND Queen’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood at the MCGCredit: Getty Images
“My first wish is that he didn’t have to fight this beast in the first place, but how grateful are we for his perspective, courage, and ability to unite,” Neitz said. “If we all had a small dose of his spirit inside us the world would certainly be a better place.”
It’s that spirit that Kevin Sheedy refers to as he ponders the effect the man he made captain at 20 after one year as Essendon coach has had on the country post-playing and coaching.
“He is a great leader in a spiritual way,” Sheedy said.
Sheedy reckons the oft-raised idea of building a statue in Neale’s honour is a great one, but his brother remains self-deprecating on behalf of the family. “It would be fantastic, but clearly we are not one for statues,” Anthony said. “It’s a bit like Australian of the Year, if it comes along, it comes along – as long as it is in a spot where there are not too many pigeons.”
Daniher’s Way outside the MCG and the Queen’s Birthday Big Freeze match, when everyone wearing a beanie becomes, according to Anthony, part of the MND army, will suffice for now. The family and Neale have a different dream.
“There will be a day when we are celebrating for a different reason because we have found an effective treatment, we have found a way to slow [MND] down or we have found a way to stop it in its tracks,” Bec said.
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