Beat the Beast – a message of hope from the Australian of the Year Luncheon
Together, we play on, together, we beat the beast.

More than 500 guests gathered in Adelaide to honour the 2025 Australian of the Year recipients and celebrate the power of individual and collective impact. The annual Australian of the Year Luncheon offered an afternoon of reflection, connection and action, led by keynote speaker Neale Daniher AO, 2025 Australian of the Year.

A former Essendon player and Melbourne Demons coach, Neale has taken the toughest fight of his life, a diagnosis of motor neurone disease and turned it into a national movement. He co-founded FightMND, which has raised over $115 million for life-saving research. His unwavering belief that “together, we can beat the beast” continues to inspire Australians across the country.

Neale’s message to guests was clear:

“No matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to choose to fight, and our attitude. The true measure of a person lies in what they choose to do and how they put that into meaningful action.”

Opening the event, Jack Buckskin delivered a heartfelt Welcome to Country, grounding the program in cultural respect and community.

Guests enjoyed a series of performances that added energy, meaning and emotion to the day. The Woodville High School Jazz Ensemble delivered a vibrant and polished set, while St Peter’s College cellist Thomas Teh offered a beautifully reflective solo. Restless Dance Theatre performed ‘Seeing Through Darkness’ a powerful artistic expression, reminded us of the role creativity and inclusiveness plays in building a more connected and compassionate society.

Our dynamic MC Ali Clarke led an engaging panel conversation with South Australia’s 2025 Australian of the Year recipients.

Professor Leah Bromfield, 2025 South Australian of the Year, highlighted the importance of reshaping systems to protect children and promote long-term wellbeing. “The numbers are alarming,” she noted that 1 in 4 children in South Australia experience abuse. Leah is leading a national campaign to transform the way we respond to child abuse and support children at risk, encouraging support from each of us, across our communities.

Amber Brock-Fabel, 2025 Young South Australian of the Year, is on a mission to amplify the voices of rural youth, ensuring their ideas and lived experiences are heard and presented to government.

Sobia and Irfan Hashmi, 2025 South Australia’s Local Heroes, shared their innovative approach to building healthcare capacity by mentoring culturally diverse pharmacists and addressing social isolation in regional communities.

Though not present, Charles Jackson OAM, 2025 Senior South Australian of the Year, sent a heartfelt message celebrating the World Heritage listing of Wilpena Pound, reaffirming his commitment to advocating for First Nations language and cultural preservation.

We extend our sincere thanks to our event partners:

The Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council, Government of South Australia, FightMND, Maras Group, Community Bridging Services (CBS) Inc., Adelaide PHN, FIVEAA, Adelaide University, Adelaide Cemeteries, Restless Dance Theatre, Serafino Wines, Sofitel Adelaide, St Peter’s College, Kytons Bakery Australia, Vale Brewing and Accenture.

Support the fight against MND: Click here to donate

Do you know someone making an extraordinary impact? Nominate them for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards: australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate