Thursday, 4 June 2026

 Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Ambulance Services, Minister for Health, Minister for Water) (10:56): I move:

That this house expresses its deep sorrow at the passing of Neale Daniher AO, footballer, coach, Victorian of the Year, Australian of the Year, and co-founder of FightMND, who faced motor neurone disease with extraordinary courage and grace, transforming personal hardship into hope for millions, and whose legacy will endure in Victoria and across the nation.

It is an honour to rise today to pay tribute to the late Neale Daniher and the enormous contribution he made to communities not just around Victoria or Australia but globally. As others have also mentioned – and I refer to the member for Pakenham in the other place and echo her sentiments – I do not know very much about football, but I do know that it takes passion and discipline, it takes collaboration and it takes persistence. These are all qualities which Neale Daniher brought not only to the game but also to the work that he did to inspire and to coach, to mentor and to lead other players at Fremantle, Essendon and Melbourne.

His work on and off the field was the stuff of legend. Not only was he able to make sure that the players around him worked at their best, he was also at his best when part of a team. In that sense he made a significant contribution not just to sporting culture but also to the things that bind people together when they head out to watch a game and when they sit on the couch at home to cheer on their team. AFL has an enormous role in our towns, in our cities and in the conversations we have at family barbecues. It is the best of endeavour, and Neale Daniher was a man who brought the best of endeavour to everything that he did.

When he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, that fatal progressive neurological condition, in 2013, he demonstrated that same discipline, collaboration and persistence. He imported and amplified those very qualities in the work that he did to advocate, to amplify and to gather momentum around awareness and around fundraising for a disease and a set of conditions that until that point had not received the sunlight or the awareness or the funding or the presence in conversation about medical treatment, care, research and outcomes that other conditions have received. Thus FightMND was born in 2014. FightMND was guided by a number of relatively simple principles: to galvanise the community around a greater level of awareness and understanding of motor neurone disease and what it means to take people’s lives, their speech, their mobility and their capacity to participate in the world and the communities around them. It is a brutal set of conditions. It is a brutal disease. There is a reason that it was referred to by Neale as the beast. Bit by bit and bite by bite, MND takes the function and the capacity of the people who live with it. Every single day the march of MND continues for those who have been diagnosed, and the prognosis varies in the time that it takes to take everything except for the minds of the people who are living with it.

Neale never backed away from talking about the very difficult experience of MND. He never backed away from appearing in his chair along with his family, with his beloved wife Jan and with their children and their grandchildren, to talk about the importance of understanding more about MND, of funding research and of giving people assistance, hope and information about the supports available when they or their loved ones have been diagnosed. It was that passion and that persistence that he had shown on the football field that he brought to the full-throated advocacy for better understanding and support for MND. Ten million dollars later we see that Australia is a global leader in driving research outcomes, trials and supports for people. As a body with MND gradually fails to support the mind that continues to be bright and sharp, it is so important that they have the resources and supports around them, whether through the clinical communities and treatment or through facilities and equipment for ways to live independently and with dignity and autonomy for as long as possible.

Neale Daniher represented the very best – the very best – of leadership. Not only did he lead, though, he walked alongside the people who shared his experience. He would sit in cafes with people. He would welcome people into his home. He would talk frankly about his own pain and about the things that he knew and felt were slipping away from him as the disease progressed. His candour enabled others to talk more frankly about what is needed for people living with and declining from motor neurone disease. Neale’s legacy is one that is profound. His work was recognised in awards as Victorian of the Year and Australian of the Year. He was recognised in standing ovations wherever he went. He was a man not afraid to don a costume at one of the many events that he participated in to drive better awareness of motor neurone disease. It was an honour and a joy to have met and spoken with Neale on a number of occasions about the work that he was doing. I do not think anyone is under any illusions about the fact that his advocacy, however, came at a cost. He was selfless in absorbing that cost, and his family were so generous in providing an opportunity and a platform for him whilst perhaps not having the time with him that they may have liked or have wanted.

Today I would like to pay respects to Neale, to honour his legacy, to make sure that his work goes on, to reaffirm a commitment to driving research and better clinical outcomes for people living with MND and to continue that persistence that Neale showed in driving every effort toward finding a cure. Neale’s legacy is one of generosity, of tenacity and of the ongoing commitment to making sure that everything he did was better for his contribution. To Jan and their children, their grandchildren, their friends and everybody who knew and loved them behind the face of FightMND, thank you for all that you did to share Neale with the world. We are so much better for the life that he lived richly, in a determined way, in a focused way, in a disciplined way. I will finish where I began: it takes passion, discipline, collaboration and persistence to make a world of difference in one short lifetime, and over the 65 years that he was here with us Neale Daniher demonstrated that, demonstrated all of those qualities in everything that he did. Vale.

 Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (11:04): It is my honour to speak on behalf of the coalition today in support of the motion brought by the Leader of the Government in the upper house and also Minister Shing. By any measure Neale Daniher was an extraordinary man. The accolades are well deserved and well known: Australian of the Year; Officer of the Order of Australia; Victorian of the Year; Melburnian of the Year; elite footballer, playing 82 games for Essendon, including winning best and fairest in 1981; coach of the Melbourne Football Club for 223 games, including the 2000 grand final; Essendon football hall of fame; and Melbourne football hall of fame.

I would like to start by talking about Neale’s upbringing. Neale was born in West Wyalong Base Hospital in 1961, the third of 11 children to Jim and Edna, and they grew up on a farm in Ungarie. In a documentary, Neale describes his time living on the farm and growing up there as ‘two loving parents, a great community that looked after us and only fond memories’. Neale wrote of his parents:

My father, Jim, devoted his life to working his guts out. He was the sort of man who, even in his youth, earned a reputation for being a tough old bugger. And my mother, Edna, has always been a nurturer who thrives on putting others’ needs before her own.

Edna and Jim prioritised character above achievement, but with Neale they certainly got both. In an interview a year ago Neale said:

The lasting lessons from my parents are many.

…

Mum and Dad were hard workers. They didn’t really talk about talent, but they rated effort. They didn’t hand out many compliments, but when they did, it was about giving effort, working hard, showing grit. One of their lasting lessons was any success in life requires a determined effort and resilience.

Neale believed that the solid foundation set by his upbringing set a moral foundation for his life, valuing loyalty and hard work. As a large rural family, the Daniher children were expected to pitch in on the farm. According to Neale’s co-author, when Jim Daniher would set his four sons a farm labouring task, three brothers would dutifully begin and get in and start slogging away, while Neale would often proceed only after asking what they were aiming to achieve and to what end. It has been written that Neale stated that he could never have been a farmer, but apparently he took pleasure in schooling a city boy about milking cows, manoeuvring a combine harvester and driving the grain truck to be unloaded at the silo and looked back fondly on the camaraderie of the shearing shed. Brother Chris has said that:

We didn’t have a lot growing up as a large family, so church and football were our weekends … the two times we did get off the farm.

Neale’s mother thought he was destined to become a Catholic priest, but his father Jim was a bigger believer in kids playing sport, otherwise he was worried they would end up at the pub punting on horses. Jim attributed his children’s sporting success to the competitive nature of growing up in a large family on a farm – Neale had to catch his older brother while staying in front of his younger sister, who was apparently faster than he was. As we now know, Neale took every opportunity when it came to sport, and the closest he came to being a priest was being called ‘The Reverend’ by the players when he coached at Melbourne. On Edna’s belief that Neale would become a priest, I actually believe that she was picking up that he was called to do something absolutely huge and make a massive impact that would serve people.

After attending primary school at St Joseph’s Catholic school in Ungarie and St Patrick’s College in Goulburn, he headed to Assumption College in Kilmore for secondary school education. Moving from the farm to boarding school was a big change for Neale. He describes life on the farm as being like ‘a free-range chicken’, and going to boarding school in Goulburn he described as:

I felt like a free-range chicken that had somehow found its way to a cage farm.

During his childhood Neale played Aussie Rules footy, where he won several best and fairest awards. He also played rugby league and rugby union. While at Assumption College in Kilmore he captained both the first football and the first cricket sides. Neale then attended RMIT University, studying emerging technologies to obtain a computer science degree.

In 1978 Neale signs with Essendon, joining his brother Terry. In 1979 Neale plays each and every round for Essendon. He is named VFL recruit of the year, wins Essendon’s best and fairest award and receives nine Brownlow Medal votes. In 1980 Neale begins to play again, plays every game of the season and is selected to play for Victoria State of Origin. In 1981 Neale plays in Essendon’s night premiership, wins the club’s best and fairest award, is selected to play for Victoria again and plays the first 21 matches of the season before injuring his knee, something that continues to interrupt the rest of his footballing career. In just three years Neale plays 66 games for Essendon. At 21 he is made captain of the side for the 1982 season; however, he unfortunately never gets the opportunity to lead the team out onto the field, and he misses the entire season due to injury. He also misses out on the 1983 and 84 seasons, during the Dons’ 1984 premiership, when Essendon is captained by his brother Terry.

In 1985, while Neale managed to play five games, he again injured his knee, missing out on being part of the premiership squad; in fact Neale only managed to play another 16 senior matches before he retired in 1990, and in his last match he made history along with his brothers Anthony, Terry and Chris. It is the first time four brothers play a senior match together, something that they also achieve at a State of Origin level, which is absolutely extraordinary. Between the four boys, they played well over 700 VFL and AFL games. After retiring from playing, Neale becomes the assistant coach at Essendon, where Kevin Sheedy then credits him for finding the gaps in Carlton’s game and helping Essendon win the 1993 flag and then Fremantle.

Daniher becomes the first senior coach of Melbourne in 1998 to take the side from last place to the preliminary final. In 2000 he leads Melbourne to the grand final where he is met with a rampaging adversary in his old side, Essendon. Neale remains with Melbourne until 2007. He then joins the West Coast Eagles as the general manager of football operations until 2013 when he is tragically diagnosed with MND.

Neale met his future wife when he was 20 and said that what attracted him to her was that she was just a beautiful heart – she was generous and friendly, but she had a competitive streak, and she shared many of his values. Understandably, after he suffered another injury in 1985, he really went into what he described as a funk. He said that what got him out of that was the fact that he was married to Jan and that they had a child on the way, and he realised that there was a lot more to life than the number on his back. Neale and Jan went on to be married for 40 incredible years, in which they achieved so much. Neale and Jan raised four wonderful children – Bec, Ben, Lauren and Luke – and our thoughts are really with them today as they go through this tragic period.

As a non-football person, my knowledge and admiration of Neale come from the time after he concluded his career as a football player and coach, and as extraordinary as that was, he was going to go on to make an even bigger contribution to the world, in my opinion. After he was diagnosed in 2013, Neale decided to confront what he called the beast and set up a charity dedicated to research and helping others: FightMND. Many have observed this week that for those diagnosed with MND the average life expectancy is 27 months; however, this extraordinary man went on to live 13 years, and he made the most of every single day. Right from the outset, Neale’s approach was this task and in this was unique. He said:

We deliberately did not start out to advocate to government for a bigger slice of the funding pie. We appealed to the community for help.

In an interview in 2015 Neale was asked about what he discussed with Prime Minister Tony Abbott as they walked to the Queen’s Birthday match. While describing it as a private conversation, Neale did say that medical funding as a whole needed to increase and that he did not want to take funds from research into other diseases. Neale said that the pie was too small, saying they were not looking for a bigger slice; they needed a bigger pie.

Neale’s original expectation for the Big Freeze was to raise $250,000, but as we approach Big Freeze 12, FightMND has now raised over $130 million. Neale said that he learned many lessons from his work:

… I now understand the power of community and how satisfying it is to see what happens when you get involved in something beyond yourself …

… I’ve had a front row seat watching what a difference people power can make.

…

I now know how generous the Australian public can be.

While Neale was always talking about and extolling the virtues of others, they in turn observed that it became clear that the FightMND cause had become a catalyst for Neale to understand his sense of purpose and, like he said, something far beyond himself. It could be argued that the lessons Neale learned during his upbringing on the farm, with parents who valued effort more than talent and admired people who tried, combined with how he managed to deal with the injuries that curtailed his professional football career, helped him become the absolutely extraordinary leader that he was. What great leaders do is show us to go against what seems to be our natural instinct. When life deals you a horrific blow, it can be our natural instinct to instantly cave to fear. When you are devastated by the hand you have been dealt, these leaders encourage you to choose your response, and that is something that Neale spoke about a lot. Neale was well known for contacting others who were battling the beast, inviting them into his home and offering them some words of encouragement and support at their lowest point but also explaining to them in blunt terms what was going to be ahead. By contacting those diagnosed with MND he was providing them with more support and exactly what they needed at that time. That type of care for others is honestly something that I aspire to in my life.

I learned last week that Emma Vulin, when she was diagnosed, was one of those people that were invited into his home. He reached out to her, and that is something that I personally am so grateful for and I am sure that everyone in that chamber was, because when these diagnoses come, you just do not know what to do or to say to people that are about to go through the darkest period of their life. When I observed Neale and Emma together in the library last year, my observation was a person, a colleague, that was gaining strength from a man who was walking ahead of her on a path that neither of them would have chosen, both battling the beast yet both keeping the benefits of future generations firmly within their sights, the centre of their purpose, while they were doing so. With both of these it is almost as if, as their body weakens, the strength of their spirit grows. Two aspects of human life are the body and the spirit, yet it is like they are moving at two completely different speeds. I do not know how else to explain it other than that. As Neale’s health declined he was able to continue the important work, thanks to his wife Joanne, his children and their families and friends. He was able to achieve so much, and the fact that he was is a testament to them. Generations unborn will benefit from Neale’s work and the care that he showed to those people who were diagnosed with the beast.

There are also a lot of lessons Neale has taught all of us, even in an industry as different as politics.

I will leave you with these comments he made to the Melbourne Football Club players in the lead-up to the 2019 Queen’s Birthday match. Neale said:

What is the right way to conduct yourself in difficult times? The right way is to somehow summon the courage, the moral courage, to take responsibility.

…

No matter what happens, it’s up to you to do something about it. Have the courage to accept responsibility. Don’t shy away from it, don’t baulk, don’t procrastinate, don’t handball it to someone else. And by doing that, what will emerge inside you is the better side of your character.

…

And finally, taking responsibility means looking for the opportunity. When life gets difficult and you think it’s a train wreck … there’s no opportunity – there’s always opportunity. I was diagnosed with a disease that will kill me. No treatment, no cure. No hope, some say.

…

There’s always opportunity – and my opportunity was to fight MND and that’s allowed me to prevail. It’s allowed me to find purpose, to transcend what’s happening to me.

That, to me, is one of the most inspirational and incredible things I have ever seen. Neale Daniher was much more than a footballer or a coach. He was a true leader, a man who sought to give to others, not to take.

Jan, his four children and their families in the midst of their own grief released him to continue to work and fight for others. He would have never been able to do that alone and without their support. How is it that a man who has lost his ability to walk, to talk and to even feed himself can go on to achieve so much? It is because of his family. Who cooked the meals when people like Emma were invited over? Who quickly whipped around and did the vacuuming? Who first googled ‘How do I start a charity?’ It was them, and his legacy – which is an incredible one – is also their legacy. I want to honour them as they grieve this week.

In closing, let us continue to fight MND by buying a beanie, buying some socks, spreading the word and doing what it takes, giving what we can. Vale, Neale Daniher.

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (11:22): I rise on behalf of the Victorian Greens to speak on this motion, recognising the life and legacy of Neale Daniher. My deep condolences to his family and friends. It is fitting that he is being recognised today in the Parliament, given his profound impact not just on the Victorian community but right across the country. Neale rose to fame as a footballer and an AFL coach who was by all accounts much loved and respected by those he worked with, and no doubt he touched and transformed the lives of many in those roles. But his advocacy about motor neurone disease has been transformative on a huge scale.

MND is an incredibly challenging condition for which we do not yet have a cure, and while the journey is different for everyone, that journey is inevitably difficult for those living with it and their families. Too often with conditions like this, unless they are immediately impacted, people do not necessarily engage with it. That can leave the people living with the condition feeling isolated in their communities and forgotten by health and research, not because people lack compassion but because they often just do not know what to say. They do not necessarily even know much about what these sorts of conditions are. Neale was able to shift that. Not only did he support so many people personally, he was able to tap into people’s empathy and change the general public perceptions of MND. Through his work he helped to educate the broader public about what living with MND is like by using his personal experience to connect people with the everyday lived experience of MND. That in turn has stimulated much-needed interest and investment in research and support for MND, and it has meant that people living with MND feel more seen and understood. It takes a special person to be able to do that whilst simultaneously fighting MND themselves, but that is what Neale, with the support of his family and those around him, did. Thank you, Neale, for everything you have done. Your legacy endures through those whose lives you have touched. Vale, Neale Daniher.

 Lee TARLAMIS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (11:25): I move:

That debate on this motion be adjourned until later this day.

Motion agreed to and debate adjourned until later this day.