Neale Daniher named 2025 Australian of the Year for Victoria
FightMND Co-founder and Patron, Neale Daniher AO, has been named the 2025 Australian of the Year for Victoria. Announced during a ceremony at the Victorian Arts Centre on November 8, Neale was recognised for his advocacy to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND).
Diagnosed with MND in 2013, Neale, in partnership with the late Dr Ian Davis OAM and Pat Cunningham, whose wife Angie sadly died from MND in 2016, established FightMND in 2014 to raise vital funds and awareness for MND research. Today, FightMND has grown into one of the world’s leading independent funders of MND research with more than $97 million invested in research and care initiatives to date.
Upon receiving this honour, Neale said:
“While it is not the reason we do what we do, on behalf of my wonderful family I am humbled and honoured to be named as Victoria’s Australian of the Year.
As a tight knit family, together we have taken on motor neurone disease, and I am so appreciative of the emotional strength of my steadfast wife Jan and children Lauren, Luke, Bec and Ben and their partners. Their enduring guidance, and unwavering support has allowed me to maintain my battle against ‘the Beast’.
My nomination is also a nomination for everyone who has been impacted by this insidious disease and allows us to appreciate that this fight is not yet over and continue our focus on the search for a cure.
It is a privilege to be recognised amongst this group of amazing and inspirational Victorians whose talents and efforts were identified as our state’s nominations for 2025, and I congratulate my fellow nominees Madeleine Buchner OAM, Professor Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO and Wayne Holdsworth on their achievements and will look to watch on as their efforts continue to unfold.
I am grateful to the awards committee, but this is more than an individual recognition and I thank and acknowledge each and every person amongst our community, my tireless and hardworking colleagues at FightMND, friends and family who have all been with me on this journey.
It is with pride and gratitude that I will be representing our state, and all those living with or impacted by MND, at the National awards next year. Play on.”
FightMND CEO, Matt Tilley congratulated Neale on this incredible honour.
“This is more than a wonderful recognition of Neale’s unwavering passion and leadership, this is also a moment that should bring a smile to the face of everyone who’s bought a beanie, taken on an ice bucket challenge, donated, or contributed to the fight against the Beast.
It also touches the many families living with MND and recognises the power of one is always the strength of many.”
The FightMND team would like to congratulate Neale on this recognition of his amazing work.
Stay tuned for Australian of the Year
Neale will join the other state and territory Australians of the Year for the national awards announcement on 25 January 2025 in Canberra.
To learn more about the Australian of the Year Awards and the state and territory winners for 2025, visit https://australianoftheyear.org.au/