About Neale Daniher AO
Key info:
- 2025 Australian of the Year: Recognized for his extraordinary advocacy, fundraising, and efforts to raise awareness for MND research.
- FightMND & “The Big Freeze”: Co-founder of FightMND in 2014, he created the annual “Big Freeze” at the MCG, a major charity event held during the King’s Birthday match.
- AFL Playing Career (1979–1990): A talented defender for the Essendon Football Club, he played 82 games and was named captain in 1982, though his career was severely restricted by knee injuries.
- Coaching Career (1992–2007): Served as an assistant coach in Essendon’s 1993 premiership team and was the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club from 1998 to 2007, leading them to the 2000 Grand Final.
- Honours: Appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 and elevated to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2021.
Neale Daniher AO categories:
Neale Daniher AO is a co-founder of FightMND, a charity that has raised and invested over $115 million into medical research to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND).
Since his diagnosis in 2013, Neale, with the unwavering support of his family, has been battling the debilitating effects of the disease in the public eye, tirelessly campaigning and raising awareness of MND. The annual Big Freeze event at the MCG embodies Neale’s ethos of turning adversity into an opportunity for celebration and hope.
A former AFL player with Essendon FC who went on to coach the Melbourne Demons, Neale Daniher AO has drawn on these team-based experiences to galvanise the community Australia-wide to join the fight against MND.
The now 63-year-old has lived with the cruel disease for 10 years, defying the average life expectancy of just 27 months. With amazing courage and relentless drive, he is dedicated to helping prevent the suffering of those who’ll be diagnosed in the future.
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