Neale’s wife Jan is bravely speaking now.
She thanked Allan and Albanese for their words, and everyone attending or watching for their support.
Jan thanked the carers “who made it possible for Neale to stay at home”.
“You adapted to constant change, new equipment and all of Neale’s needs with so much patience and kindness,” she said.
“You also had to put up with a lot of eyerolling from Neale and I’m incredibly grateful for your support.”
Jan shared a monologue from the 1989 film Parenthood, discussing the merry-go-round versus the rollercoaster.
“Grandma chose the rollercoaster and so did Neale,” she said.
“The rollercoaster a metaphor for life, unpredictable, full of highs and lows, sudden turns and unexpected challenges. Neale often said life doesn’t promise to be fair. He learned that early and he learned that with every challenge comes opportunity.”
Jan spoke of meeting Neale for the first time shortly before he ruptured his first ACL during his Essendon career.
“We had a lot in common, including a love of family and sport,” she said.
The first visit to the Daniher farm was “a bit daunting”.
“It was busy, loud and it was so much fun, and there was plenty of laughter,” Jan said of staying with Neale’s parents and their 11 children.
A netballer who also played on Saturday afternoons, Jan never watched Neale play for Essendon but she said the lessons from sport “helped set us up for life”.
“Working as a team, learning to win and to lose, learning resilience and discipline,” she said.
Jan choked back tears as she spoke of their family.
“The most important role of all was becoming a father to our four children – Loz, Luke, Bec and Ben,” she said.
“It gave him a new perspective on life. He adored being a dad and it gave his life its greatest meaning. With every change and every hurdle and every disappointment Neale adjusted. He always found a way forward and always found meaning in what came next.”
Jan said it was “devastating and almost impossible to believe” to be told there was no cure for Neale’s MND diagnosis and his 27-month life expectancy.
“But Neale took on the challenge as he did with all the others – head on,” she said.
“Together with Pat Cunningham, Dr Ian Davis and our families, we all found a new focus and purpose. We chose something positive to work towards – to fight MND.
“We rode the bumps and the drops and the sharp curves, never knowing what was to come next.
“There were moments of joy and sadness, fear and love, strength and determination.
“It wasn’t easy, it was incredibly difficult, but we faced each challenge together and we never gave up.
“We were incredibly lucky that Neale got to meet his six beautiful grandchildren. But MND doesn’t define Neale.
“Neale is defined by his character, his integrity, his humility, his honest, his strength and resilience, his sharp wit, his cheeky smile, his love of family and friends and his wonderful love of laughter.
“This is how we’ll remember Neale. I love you, darling.”