A sea of blue and unvarnished love: The many definitions of Neale Daniher

It’s not often you go to a funeral where half the congregation are wearing beanies.

Particularly a state funeral with the prime minister, Victorian premier, chair of the AFL Commission and leaders from all political persuasions and football clubs in attendance.

But it was so appropriate to celebrate the life of Neale Daniher, one of 11 children, a husband to Jan, father of four – Bec, Ben, Loz and Luke – and the grandfather of six with a seventh not far away.

Informal among formality. Jokes among sadness. Love expressed without varnish. Pop music to break up the solemnity. And 1000 of those famous beanies to represent Daniher’s Big Freeze campaign.

The man who became Australian of the Year in 2025 for his tireless, unrelenting campaign to raise awareness and money to fight motor neurone disease – the illness he was diagnosed with in 2013 when his life expectancy was 27 months – remained down to earth to the end.

Already famous as part of the Daniher clan, playing for Essendon alongside his brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris, the former Melbourne coach, “the Reverend” – as he was known when coaching – became a revered hero for the fight he took to “the beast” (MND).

But Jan, his wife of 41 years, cut to the heart of why their life together was so joyous in a moving eulogy.

“MND doesn’t define Neale. Neale is defined by his character. His integrity, his humility, his honesty, his strength and resilience, his sharp wit, his cheeky smile, his love of wonderful family or friends ... this is how we will remember Neale. I love you, darl,” she said.

With Neale’s mum, Edna, sitting among her massive clan in the members’ stand at the MCG, the service was about Neale the man, not the campaigner.

It was about the man who grew up in the dusty paddocks of Ungarie in NSW with a love of sport, music, family and learning. One of his mottos was that he watched movies for entertainment and read to learn.

That world became so wide, legendary songman Paul Kelly performed Leaps and Bounds at Daniher’s funeral and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was one of the speakers, telling mourners, “he was truly one of the most positive people I have ever had the honour of meeting”.

The service was filled with humorous recollections Daniher would have greeted with the raucous laughter his children adored.

Such as the day his son Ben met the full force of his dad’s honesty and wit after returning to a local football field, his physical condition not at its peak following COVID-19 lockdowns. “How much are you weighing,” was Neale’s simple, but pointed, question.

On the defensiv