Neale Daniher’s son, Ben, speaks after father awarded Australian of the Year

The inspirational Daniher family will continue their fight against ‘the beast’, motor neurone disease, after former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher AO was named 2025 Australian of the Year for his work in advocating for a cure.

Neale Daniher’s inspirational family will be by his side and ramping up their fight against “the beast” – motor neurone disease – after the former AFL player and coach was named the 2025 Australian of the Year for his work in advocating for a cure.

Mr Daniher was honoured on Saturday after braving the disease for more than 10 years and helping to raise more than $100m through his FightMND foundation.

Son Ben said the family would continue advocating to help raise awareness and find a cure for the disease.

“We want to live in a world without MND and we’re just going to try and continue the research and hopefully develop treatments first, just to slow down the progression of the disease, and then hopefully one day we can we can find a cure,” he said.

“It’s been incredible and thanks to the wider Australian public community, we’ve invested over $115m into treatment and care for people that have (MND) and we’re just going to continue the fight.”

Ben Daniher said millions in FightMND funds have been invested in research grants, clinical trials, and support services for patients and their families.

Jan and Neale Daniher AO and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the National Arboretum in Canberra Picture: NewsWire Martin Ollman

In addition to the annual Big Freeze campaign, the FightMND foundation will continue to organise a road trip (Daniher’s Drive), described as an opportunity to “put the fun back in fundraising”.

“There’s about 80 cars, 200 participants and we (travel) around regional Victoria, visiting all the towns, and it’s about putting the fun back in fundraising, as Dad said, so that raised over a couple of million dollars as well (in 2024),” Ben said.

Neale Daniher was inducted into the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame in 2021, having coached the Demons from 1998 to 2007 and taking them to the Grand Final in 2000.

In his acceptance speech, he said the Australian of the Year award belonged to everyone involved in fighting the disease.

“I am deeply honoured to accept the title of Australian of the Year 2025,” Mr Daniher said.

“This recognition isn’t just for me; it belongs to the entire MND community – the families, the carers, the researchers, the volunteers, all those at the FightMND foundation and MND state associations, and the countless Australians who have joined us in this fight.

“It also belongs to my family, headed by my wife Jan and our children and their partners, who have been with me every step of the way on this challenging journey.”

Neale Daniher AO said the award belonged to everyone involved in fighting the MND disease. Picture: NewsWire Martin Ollman

Anthony Albanese, who handed out the awards in Canberra, said it was hard “to think of anyone who has done more than Neale in the service of others”.

“Neale’s extraordinary story is not about what MND has taken from him, it’s about all that Neale has given: to our awareness of this disease and to the cause of finding a cure,” the Prime Minister said.

“Australians have always found ways to do things better, to make our country better.

“It is that spirit that drives us as we look ahead and set about building the future.

“For what burns in our hearts as brightly as our compassion, fairness and generosity is our ambition, our curiosity and our courage.

“That’s the spirit we see embodied by every Australian of the Year, and by every Australian who has ever been nominated.”

In 2018, Mr Daniher’s NSW home town of Ungarie unveiled a giant football statue to pay tribute to his family.

The ball, five metres long and about 800kg, was a tribute to the town’s most famous exports, Aussie rules legends Terry, Neale, Anthony and Chris Daniher.

An inscription on the ball reads: “Ungarie NSW, home of the Danihers.”

Between them, the four brothers played 752 games for Essendon and the Sydney Swans.

Neale Daniher (front centre) with his family (L-R) Bec (front), Jan (wife), Ben, Lauren and Luke (all Daniher) at Melbourne Airport on his return from Canberra where he won Australian of the Year. Picture: Josie Hayden

Ungarie has a population of around 400 and has endured at least four floods in the past decade, with locals hopeful the red ball will bring some bounce back into their town.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who officially nominated Mr Daniher for the award, said his determination in finding a cure for MND was genuinely inspirational.

“Neale inspired Victorians on the footy field. Since being diagnosed with MND in 2013, he made it his mission to raise awareness about the disease, while battling through its cruel effects in public, and he continues to inspire and uplift us everyday,” she said.

“The average life expectancy of MND is 27 months after diagnosis. But Neale has defied all odds. And his courage has made a remarkable impact.

“You have made every Victorian – and every Australian – so incredibly proud.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said there was “no bigger champion” than Mr Daniher.

“Neale is an inspiration to many millions of Australians. His achievements on the footy field were remarkable, while his legacy off the field in helping raise awareness and find a cure for MND is legendary,” he said.

“There is no bigger champion than Neale, as he continues to amaze us with his resilience, passion and drive, all while keeping his cheeky Daniher wit.”

Aboriginal leaders, leading epidemiologists, domestic violence prevention advocates and lawyers were among the 732 Australians recognised in the Australia Day honours list.

The list includes voice to parliament architect Professor Megan Davis, former Victorian deputy chief health officer Professor Allen Cheuk-Seng Cheng and High Court of Australia Justice James Edelman. They were all awarded the country’s highest honour, the Companion of the Order of Australia.

The late Galarrwuy Yunupingu was also recognised for his eminent service to First Nations peoples.

Marking its 50th year, Australia’s honours system was a celebration of exceptional achievements and outstanding service to the community.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn said those recognised had made a huge contribution to the country.

“To read recipient stories is to be reminded that contribution to communities across the country, underpinned by care, kindness, respect and love, is what matters most to all Australians, in every sphere of life,” she said.