How a waterslide helped the Ulverstone community fight MND
Tucked along Tasmania’s scenic north-west coast, where the Leven River meets Bass Strait, lies the vibrant seaside town of Ulverstone. A place where panoramic ocean views, sandy beaches, inviting walking trails and friendly faces are all part of everyday life.
It’s in this welcoming town that an extraordinary event has taken root. The Ulverstone DIY Big Freeze. What started as a simple idea has become an annual celebration, bringing people together in the name of raising awareness and crucial funds for motor neurone disease (MND).
At the heart of this community‑driven initiative is Harcourts Ulverstone and Penguin real estate agent Jakub Lehman, who, together with the Ulverstone Football Club and the Central Coast Council, has turned an icy plunge into a signature community event.
The faces behind the fight
Jakub’s motivation to join the fight against MND comes from a personal place. “The first time I ever heard about MND was a gentleman here in Ulverstone, Barry Pateman. He was friends with my mum, and he was diagnosed when I was just 16,” he recalls. Barry’s story had a profound impact.
“Within three years, Barry was in a wheelchair, and not long after, he passed away. His story was on the front page of The Advocate because he wanted people to be more aware and to build a stronger support base for others living with MND,” Jakub explains.
Years later, another local connection strengthened Jakub’s commitment. Darren Gale, father of a school friend, was diagnosed in 2011. A crane operator, mentor and quiet role model, he had a knack for steering young people in the right direction.
“Darren was one of the people that kind of pulled me and his own son back in line,” Jakub says. “He’d done that through getting us into the gym and getting us into sport and keeping our focus on point, he’d always helped keep us on track when we were younger. He fought MND until 2020,” Jakub says.
The diagnosis was a stark reminder of the disease’s impact. “The doctor said, ‘You may have 12 months, you may have 10 years. Just go live your life.’ That really stuck with me.”
The birth of the Ulverstone DIY Big Freeze
Jakub’s first started fundraising for FightMND back in 2017. “One of Darren’s cousins, Jamie Castle, and I organised fundraising events on his property in Devonport. We hosted these events in 2018 and 2019, while Darren was in the later stages of fighting MND,” he explains.
Darren died from MND in January 2020. This, combined with the pandemic, impacted Jakub’s fundraising for a few years.
“After Darren passed and the pandemic hit, we didn’t have a venue or the ability to run events for nearly three years,” he recalls.
Traditional venues disappeared overnight, and for a while it looked like momentum might be lost.
Then came an idea that felt equal parts ambitious and beautifully local.
During a sponsorship conversation with the Ulverstone Football Club, someone suggested creating their own version of the Big Freeze, complete with a giant slide.
The Club had access to the iconic Ulverstone Waterslide. Built in the 1970s, the slide is a local icon that sits unused for much of the year. Through a chain of local connections, the team secured the venue and pulled the event together in just four weeks.
In its first year, Jakub and the committee embraced grassroots preparation for the event.
“One of the activities I recall is going around town asking locals to post flyers in shop windows. Nothing fancy, just printed A4 flyers,” Jakub recalls. “Local businesses were very supportive, with most agreeing to help advertise the event through their show windows.”
The team set a $1,000 fundraising goal and expected about 100 people to turn up.
Instead, the town delivered something unforgettable.
“We ended up having close to 1,000 people down there. Families travelled in from Devonport, Latrobe, Penguin and beyond just to see the event,” Jakub says. “We ended up raising $8,500, which was a fantastic outcome.”
The power of community
Seeing the community come together was a turning point for the organising committee. “That was where the penny dropped for us that we could really make this a bit of a mainstay for our community,” he says. “If we had 1,000 people turn up off an event that was organised in four weeks, imagine where we could take this.”
Since then, the event has grown with strong support from the Central Coast Council and the Ulverstone Football Club. “Without the council, we probably wouldn’t be able to bring grandstands or even manage the insurance,” Jakub explains. “They’ve been a huge support network. Harcourts, the council, and the football club now bring the Big Freeze under their banner, which means we can focus on the event and the cause, not red tape.”
The unforgettable moments
Among the many participants over the years, one story stands out for Jakub. Andrew Johnson, diagnosed with ALS, a form of MND, just a month before the event went down the slide with his daughter Denna, dressed as Batman and Batwoman.
“I think it pulled a lot of heartstrings in the crowd. There was a lot of tears, and it was just a beautiful, surreal moment to watch it happen,” Jakub says. Within months of that joyful moment, Andrew had almost completely lost his speech, making the video of their slide together an irreplaceable memory.
Another unforgettable moment came when Max Maynard, the 80-year-old builder of the Ulverstone Waterslide, went down the slide for the very first time with his son Grant, who has Down syndrome. Having constructed the slide 50 years earlier, Max had never experienced the thrill himself until that day. “It was a memorable moment for many of us in the crowd,” recalls Jakub.
Jakub’s advice for others
For anyone thinking of hosting a DIY Big Freeze, Jakub’s advice is simple.
“You don’t need a big budget, a title, or a plan. You just need determination and a few friends who care as much as you do,” Jakub says. “You don’t have to be the mayor or a politician. You can just be an everyday person and make a real difference,” he adds.
The event proves it. One old waterslide, a small coastal town, and a group of dedicated volunteers have created something bigger than anyone imagined. A day of courage, laughter, and community spirit that makes a lasting difference for those living with MND.
Jakub’s final piece of advice. “Just give it a crack. Just give it a go. And at the end of the day, you can put your hand on your heart and say, ‘I’ve done everything I could to play my part.’”
Choose fight and host a DIY Big Freeze
Join Jakub and the Ulverstone community by hosting your own DIY Big Freeze in 2026.
By hosting a DIY Big Freeze, you can bring the magic of the MCG’s Big Freeze to your own community. Whether it’s an Ice Bucket Challenge, selling Socks and Beanies, or your creative take on the iconic slide, every gesture fuels critical MND research and care programs supporting Australians living with the Beast.
Joining the fight begins with a choice. I Choose Fight. Will you?
This Big Freeze, unite your community, make a splash and bring us closer to a world free from MND. Learn how you can host a DIY Big Freeze on our website.