Former football champion and charity co-founder Neale Daniher has been named the 2025 Victorian Australian of the year. Daniher was recognised at a ceremony in Melbourne last night for his work raising fund and awareness for motor neuron disease.
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00:00Still processing the enormity of the award, the Danaher's today celebrating a huge achievement.
00:09I think it's really recognition to all the people with MND and all the people that have
00:14supported Fight MND over the, you know, since 2014.
00:19Surrounded by his family and met with a standing ovation.
00:24But it was Neil Danaher's look to his wife Jan that said it all, as he was named Victorian
00:33Australian of the Year at a ceremony last night.
00:36For Neil to be included in this, it's incredibly special for our family and for you.
00:47The award recognises his tireless work in raising millions of dollars and awareness
00:51for motor neurone disease, after his own diagnosis a decade ago.
00:56He's been the face of the Fight MND movement, helping launch the now iconic Big Freeze Blue
01:01Beanie.
01:02While his body started to fail him, his advocacy never wavered, nor did his determination to
01:08fight the disease he calls the beast.
01:12Even from the start when there were a few hurdles about, you know, how were we going
01:16to help, he just said we're going to get in and do it.
01:19You know, there's no no about it, we'll do something as much as we can.
01:23Danaher played 82 games for Essendon from 1979 to 1990, in an injury ravaged career.
01:31He turned to coaching, first as an assistant coach, then as head coach of Melbourne, taking
01:36the Demons to the AFL Grand Final in 2000.
01:40He joined West Coast in 2008, but six years later he revealed his diagnosis, dedicating
01:46the rest of his life to educating people about motor neurone disease and raising funds
01:52towards a cure.
01:53People have put in so much work, so we just want to say thank you to everyone that supported
01:58Fight MND.
01:59In congratulating Neil Danaher, Premier Jacinta Allen simply said, champion footballer, champion
02:05fighter, champion.
02:08Danaher is now in the running for Australian of the Year, which will be announced in Canberra
02:12on Australia Day.