MINI: Rest in Peace Neale Daniher

The team pays tribute to the late Neale Daniher, reflecting on the extraordinary impact he and his family have had through their FightMND foundation, which has driven world‑leading research and awareness.

Alex shares that it’s not the circumstances but how you face them that defines you, as tributes pour in from across the country.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
iHeart Podcasts. You can hear more gold one a four
point three podcasts playlist, and listen live on the free
I Heart app. So Feil's right that we should start
today's show by talking about the life and times sort
of an incredible man, which is Neil danaher Alex Hu's
story today. Yeah, I'm really.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Upset this morning, Christian and as is the country really
a former Australian of the Year back in twenty twenty
five and this man was a legend, godfather. He's been
described by some AFL coaches and he's responsible for a
lot of coaches getting their jobs. Chris Fagan, we just
turned in the sports news there the coach of the
Brisbane Lions. He has raised over one hundred million dollars
for M and D. This man just fought and fought

(00:49):
and fought this disease for thirteen long years. Normally it
takes people a lot less than that. Takes a lot
less than that to take people this awful, awful disease.
We also learn in the National Rugular aguej I Row
South Sydney Queens story last yeah break at thirty years old.
He's got a young child. He was diagnosed in December

(01:10):
last year, and it's just this awful disease that just
keeps it just keeps popping out.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
I actually think it's one of the cruelest ones that
people can get because it stripped you of almost everything.
And he was only given Nil's had it. Neil got
diagnosed what thirteen years ago. It was given twenty seven
months to live. And when they talk about it's not
what happens to you in life, it's what you make
of what happens to you in life. His reaction to
get that awful diagnosis, to choose a life of literally

(01:36):
selfless service, is unbelievable. It's nothing sort of awe inspiring. Actually,
I went to the Big Freeze in twenty eighteen when
we first moved here, and I met him and his
daughter Beck and he was still able to walk them,
and just I saw for hours he was marching around
the MCG and just going into different rooms, you know,
And he refused to he refused to let you have

(01:58):
any pity for him. He just wanted a cure for
that disease. And the thing is around the world MND.
The research into it is led by nil Els Foundation.
The money they've raised over the years it's all literally
led by Melbourne, Australia and Neil Dannaher and his foundation
and what his family have done. It is incredible. His
life story is it's devastating the news today and yesterday

(02:21):
when the family now is it? But also what inspiration?

Speaker 2 (02:24):
Yeah, you say right about that. You know, it's not
the circumstances, it's how you deal those second circumstances.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
So can you be getting a state funeral?

Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, definitely he will have a state funeral one hundred
and fifty percent because he means so much to so
many people. You know, born in New South Wales country,
New South Wales, one of four brothers, playing for the
Essendon Footy Club and he went on to coach the
Melbourne Demons as well, have a two hundred games and
an inspiration to so many and as I said, those
coaches as well. So many tributes pouring in across the

(02:56):
sporting landscape, not just AFL, but across the country. And
that's the difference this man made to everyone's lives, especially
those who are going through and all those families and
just this this this awful, awful disease. And I am
boyed by the fact also that NRL fans are calling
for an M and D round, which I think is

(03:16):
a really really good idea.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Here, what a great legacy if they were able to
organize that. I think that's a great day because the
next big freeze under two weeks time, definitely very special
on King's birthday.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
Yeah, and he was due to make some medior appearances
next week. And so it's come as a real shock
that Neil Neil is no longer with us, But our
family are in our thoughts. His family is in our thoughts,
and we just we love that man and and the
legacy he leaves and just couldn't be more proud of
what he's done and what he's achieved.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Yeah, well, said Hoyes.