Speech delivered on 17 November 2025 at Admiralty House, Sydney.

I acknowledge the Cammeraygal people as the traditional owners of this land we’re gathered on. The beauty of this place is you can look across the Harbour and see the lands of the Gadigal people, if you know the story of the Parramatta River and everything that happened here long before the colony arrived. Those stories are often told here with First Nations people who join us, and I pay my respects to Elders, past and present. If there are any people with First Nations heritage in the room, I welcome you particularly.

As you arrived this evening, you may not have noticed, but at the front of the House sits a beautiful painting—a significant healing work by Aboriginal painter Paddy Bedford, a Noongar man, no longer alive. He was a favourite of former Governor-General Sir William Deane. The painting is called Medicine Pocket. It welcomes everyone who comes into this house as a mark of respect to First Nations people. We find it hard to imagine this place without that welcome.

We do many events with First Nations people and organisations, and you’ll see we’ve done quite a lot with art. Starting with Paddy Bedford’s Medicine Pocket, but in this room you’ll also see works by Ray Ken from the APY Lands, and a beautiful bark painting by Mrs. Yunupingu, telling the story of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Behind us are paintings by Sir Arthur Streeton, created over 30 years around Mosman’s Bay. Please wander around tonight and look at the art—we’re trying to tell stories on behalf of the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian War Memorial about where we’ve been and where we’re going.

Medicine Pocket represents living water, always flowing on the artist’s mother’s country. I think it speaks beautifully to FightMND’s purpose: to find treatments and then a cure for motor neurone disease. Tonight, I hope you feel that sense of possibility.

You’ll also see footballs. I’m probably not as crazy a footballer as Neale Daniher and some others in the room, but I’m pretty well up there. There are plenty of footballs in this house, and nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing kids kicking footies on the front lawn. It’s not always a Sherrin—sometimes rugby league, sometimes rugby union—but most often it’s a Sherrin.

Please always be friends of Admiralty House. You are welcome to come back.

I want to acknowledge a number of people, starting with Neale Daniher AO, Australian of the Year for 2025, co-founder and patron of FightMND, and now a second-time author. You’ve just released The Power of Choice—an extraordinary book. I couldn’t put it down. Mine’s already dog-eared, sorry Neale, but I’ve made notes throughout. It meant so much to me to read the lessons you provide.

Jan Daniher—Neale describes you in the book as the most meaningful part of his life, you and your family. You and the four children are the foundation, and everything rests on that. You all show up for each other, no matter what. Wonderful to welcome you. And Bec, Neale and Jan’s daughter, such an important part of FightMND as Executive Director of Strategic Alliances. You’ve been up here a couple of times to make sure this event was perfect—thank you.

I also acknowledge Nicki Stewart, Neale’s carer. I talk a lot about care in this role—how we pay attention to those who care. Nicki, I’ve seen you many times caring for Neale. You’re as much a part of this family as anyone, and you do it with such grace. Thank you.

Mike Schneider, Board Chair of FightMND—lovely to see you again. Matt Tilley, CEO of FightMND—last saw you at the MCG for the Big Freeze. Professor Matthew Kiernan AM, CEO of NeuRA, one of the world’s leading experts on MND. And Charles Curran AC—one of the most generous philanthropists, particularly in medical research. Wonderful to welcome you back.

I particularly want to acknowledge FightMND supporters and those with lived experience of MND tonight—Damien Andrews and Ron Hobden—and your families. Thank you for joining us.

Many of you are known to me through Australian Rules football. There are significant people here from the Sydney teams—the Swans and the Giants. Apologies to the Melbourne supporters! Many of you started in Melbourne at the AFL, and now we have a new CEO from Sydney. All the very best.

You are all generous supporters—not just of Neale, but of the vital work of FightMND. You’re a community forming under Neale’s guidance, and you’ve achieved so much, particularly in fundraising and commitment to the ultimate goal of a cure. MND is not rare, and its impact continues to escalate. It doesn’t discriminate—it can affect anyone, at any age, at any time.

Neale, tonight completes our hat trick for this year. We’ve met three times—in summer in Canberra under a tree at Government House with the Australian of the Year finalists; in winter at the MCG for the Big Freeze, walking along Daniher’s Way among tens of thousands of people and a sea of Big Freeze beanies; and now in late spring here in Sydney, launching your new book.

When I was sworn in as Governor-General, I promised to put care, kindness and respect at the centre of everything I do. Over the past 16 months, I’ve seen the power of those words—care, kindness, respect—with modernity, visibility and optimism. That’s where I see FightMND: using every lever to make change and end the devastating reality of MND.

As Mike Schneider said during the Big Freeze, Neale and the FightMND team have turned pain into purpose. In my role, I see extraordinary advances in medical research—from cancer to genetic diseases, including MND. FightMND invested more than $22 million in 2025 alone in research, clinical trials and care. That’s staggering. With continued support, we can grow what Neale, Ian and Pat started—a future with treatments and one day a cure.

None of this work is easy—not the fundraising, the community building or the advocacy. Care is hard. It’s rigorous, accountable and persistent. It pushes boundaries. That’s what you’re doing.

Tonight, I want to reflect on Neale’s voice in his latest book. The Power of Choice is humble, deeply self-reflective and often self-critical. It’s a powerful reflection on our basic humanity and an incredible teaching aid. I love that you start each chapter with inspiring quotes and end with exercises for the reader. You ask us to do the work—you’re forever a coach.

Chapter 16 is my favourite—about turning values into virtues, or as you say, planting values and growing virtues. Your table of options is remarkable. Among many virtues, you say: when we plant kindness, we grow compassion; when we plant humility, we grow wisdom; when we plant respect, we grow trust; courage grows moral strength; generosity grows community.

There’s so much more to learn from you, Neale. Tonight, we celebrate your remarkable year as Australian of the Year and your belief in the power of FightMND to change lives. On behalf of all Australians, thank you—a heartfelt thank you to you and your extraordinary team.

Your “Pop’s Life Compass” should be stuck on everyone’s fridge. Among its beliefs: live with integrity; never believe winning is all that counts; serve others; never believe life is just about you; be open to love—take the risk on love. Your grandchildren, and generations ahead, will prosper from the gift you’ve given us all. It’s the ultimate act of love and care for others and for the future.

Thank you for sharing this with us.