Prominent AFL figure Neale Daniher has been named Victorian of the Year for his campaign to find a cure for motor neurone disease.
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The former Essendon player and Melbourne coach is the public face of the deadly condition, co-founding the FightMND charity after revealing his diagnosis in 2014.
MND attacks nerves controlling movement, breathing and speech but the 68-year-old is determined to be a voice for other sufferers.
Daniher is being honoured on Monday alongside Young Victorian of the Year, Skye Kinder.
The junior doctor is a fierce advocate for better rural health policy and was earlier named Victoria's Young Australian of the Year for 2019.
The 28-year-old is training to be a psychiatrist while also studying medical law and running health advocacy workshops for other doctors.
Other recipients honoured by the Victoria Day Council include not-for-profit community TV station Channel 31.
It has been handed the Victoria Day Award for the Arts, while refugee and asylum seeker charity Water Well Project is the Community Organisation for 2019.
Victoria Day Council chair Tony Cree said the four winners had gone above and beyond for their communities, and he was thrilled to see them recognised.
VICTORIAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS
* Victorian of the Year: Neale Daniher
* Young Victorian of the Year: Skye Kinder
* Victoria Day Award for the Arts: Channel 31
* Community Organisation for 2019: Water Well Project
Australian Associated Press
