WORTHY TRIBUTE
IN view of Neale Daniher’s ‘Australian of the Year’ honour which delighted millions of people, I hereby reprint a story from one of my books, The stars look down.
Of all the many hundreds of students I had the privilege of being associated with over the years at ACK, Neale Daniher is right up there at the summit.
He came south to Kilmore in 1977 and his two years at Assumption were outstanding in all respects—in the classrooms, playing fields, and extracurricular pursuits.
Neale came from a wonderful family background —great parents and 10 siblings—reared on a far northern Riverina farm. The wide brown land with its vast blue skies has nurtured countless fine, tough men and strong, resilient women.
The Daniher story has been well-documented over the years. It’s the inspiring tale of four brothers who all got to play at AFL’s elite level.
Neale, Terry, Anthony, and Chris won wide acclaim for their footballing prowess and their down-to-earth honesty and collective sense of humour. None took themselves overly seriously.
Seven sisters could not be ignored, talented and skilled in varied areas in their own right. They were as proud of their brothers as the latter were proud of the ‘girls’,
All 11 offspring would admit to owing much to parents Jim and Edna. Stoic country folk, highly-respected, they instilled faith reinforced values in their children—the values that stand the test of time and sadly, are not as prevalent in modern day Australia.
Faraway
It’s a long trek from Ungarie, a tiny dot on the NSW map, to the great stadiums of the AFL, and it is one of this nation’s remarkable sport achievements that four bush lads would progress from the tiny outpost to grace the playing fields of Australia’s most popular winter sport.
Jim and Edna have taken much pride in the achievements of their sons and daughters. Jim was a considerable sporting identity in the far flung outpost of the code, and did much over long years to further football’s cause.
Stories of the family’s Christmases well into the children’s late teenage years are nostalgic ‘postcards’ of rural New South Wales, evoking images of Mary Grant Bruce’s classic stories.
A visit
In Neale’s college years, his folks got to visit rarely because of distance, but they came south to vital First XVIII and First XI games, and I was so impressed with these stoic folk that I promised Neale I would one day make the trip to visit them.
Well, it took me 30 years to fulfil that promise, but I’m glad the effort was made.
An archetypal country homestead with wide verandas amid gently rolling farm fields has been the family home across generations.
Jim and Edna, now in the late evening of long, hard-working lives, are magnificent people.
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Neale was an immediate success story on the playing fields of Assumption.
His first hit out for the cricket XI produced a superb 157 versus a strong Mentone attack, and he scored in prolific manner across the AGSV summer of 1977 and ‘78.
An astute and inspirational leader, he guided the Dark and Light Blues to the ‘78 title. One century on a lively pitch at Ivanhoe was a classic.
Simon O’Donnell, of later Australian cricket fame, was a junior member of the 1978 side and testifies to Neale’s undoubted class as a willow wielder. Had Essendon not claimed him for football straight from school, I’m certain he could have progressed to the highest levels of the game.
Through the mists of time I still ‘see’ his classic cover and on and off drives. The on-drive is the hallmark of the truly-gifted player. His performances on the fields of winter are still etched in memory.
At centre half back or half forward, he was brilliant and he thrilled the large crowds of those times. Eight goals from CHF at St Pat’s Ballarat was a glorious cameo—something akin to his amazing four goals in time-on to give the Bombers a sensational win over Carlton at Princes Park a couple of years later.
Neale played a dominant role in ACK’s 1978 title and captained the XVIII brilliantly to honours in his final year.
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A top performer also academically, Neale made a splendid impression on all and many of his legion of college pals remain firm friends today.
Testimony to his impact on others was recently illustrated when Colbinabbin ex-students Jim and Janine Morgan drove their farm ute all the way to Perth as an act of solidarity when they heard of their loyal friend’s health setback. Jim, a full back in 1978, lost his leg in a farm accident a few years ago.
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AFL’s chronicles tell us that Neale went straight from college to Essendon’s senior team where he played 82 games, was made captain before turning 21, and was selected for the Big V. He was the Bomber’s best and fairest in 1981. Sadly, severe knee injuries cut short a career that suggested he would have been a genuine superstar of the 80s.
Neale was part of the Bombers coaching panel from 1992, then followed an apprenticeship coaching role at Fremantle before he was appointed coach of Melbourne in 1998. He coached the Demons into six finals campaigns in his 10 years there.
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Neale’s wife Jan is a wonderful person and the couple have four fine children, two boys and two girls. Shortly, the family will return to Melbourne from Perth where Neale has been a highly-regarded football operations manager at West Coast.
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I’ve long regarded Neale as a worthy role model and Assumption will count itself fortunate in future years if another such student graces its halls and portals.
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I am very grateful for Neale’s genuine friendship and support from the time of his schooldays, which has extended even to him stopping by in a hire car in times when West Coast played in Melbourne.
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VARIA
Young area folk Caiden and Keira were walking their dogs Blaize and Paddy the other day, and allowed me to take the photo.
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The names Cummins and Dowling are generational ones at Assumption. Great families from the Yarrawonga region, I was really pleased to see Dan Dowling and his wife Hannah (Cummins) when they called by with young daughter Grace last week. The couple have fond memories of their college years. Dan, a successful farmer, recalls being coached in Under 15XVIII by Ned Panniggo. Ned is a Vietnam veteran and fire brigade legend in the Wallan and Beveridge area. Hannah and her sister Lauren gave me great assistance with the footy and cricket at ACK. Lauren’s son Max is a champion young cyclist with a bright future beckoning.
