“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.”
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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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