Icy atmosphere as Victorian MPs raise funds for MND

Victorian MPs take plunge for Neale Daniher's FightMND Big Freeze fundraiser Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 6:30pm In short: State government and opposition MPs have taken the plunge to raise tens of thousands of dollars for motor neurone disease research. The second annual Parliamentary Big Freeze comes just days after MND campaigner Neale Daniher's state funeral. Those who copped a dunking include Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, Sport Minister Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Men and Boys Paul Edbrooke and Deputy Opposition Leader David Southwick. The atmosphere can feel quite frosty around the corridors of Victorian Parliament but today it was literally an ice bath. The second annual Parliamentary Big Freeze saw government ministers, opposition frontbenchers and even the opposition leader take the plunge to raise money for the late Neale Daniher's FightMND charity. FightMND chief executive Matt Tilley revealed the politicians were on their way to raising up to $30,000 for the charity. The event was organised by Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) two years ago. Like last week's record-breaking Big Freeze event at the MCG, participants came in costume with parliament's theme this year being "what you wanted to be when you grew up". Opposition Leader Jess Wilson came as her favourite television character, Constable Maggie Doyle from Blue Heelers. She said she was amazed by how Big Freeze events united the community. "In a time where I think there's a lot of division in society and in the world, this is one of those causes that people actually come together and put everything aside and focus on how can we support people like Emma to fight the beast," she said, referencing the way Daniher described MND. The crowd was told Ms Wilson had raised $10,000. Labor minister Paul Edbrooke came as Steve Irwin, remarking on the late conservationist's passion for the environment. "Crikey, it was cold," Mr Edbrooke spluttered after climbing clear of the water. Mr Tilley mistakenly thought Liberal MP Nicole Werner was paying homage to Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne. But the Member for Warrandyte revealed she was a character from Saddle Club, a television series which she described as "an icon" of her generation. She said she was taking part for a family friend who lost their brother to MND. "They talk about MND being like losing someone you love in increments but without being able to stop it," she said. Sport Minister Steve Dimopoulos was still revelling in yesterday's Socceroos World Cup win. This was his second time taking part in the Parliamentary Big Freeze. "It doesn't get any warmer," he said. He vowed to take the plunge every year that parliament held the event. "It's hard to walk the path of somebody going through something as significant as [MND]," he said. "One way to hold that person's hand is by donating or doing this." Anticipation turned to confusion for many as Deputy Liberal Leader David Southwick kept the crowd waiting only to show up in a riotous outfit with a tape deck blasting the Village People's YMCA. The gathering was then treated to a performance as sizzling as the temperature of the water DJ Southwick was then submerged in. Jan Daniher watches on Today's event came just days after Neale Daniher's state funeral at the MCG. Premier Jacinta Allan thanked Jan Daniher, the wife of the AFL legend, for joining the MPs at Spring Street. "Neale taught all of us about the disease through his strength and courage, his honesty," Ms Allan told the gathering. "He showed us what it looked like, he taught us what it meant to be someone affected by the debilitating disease of MND but he also showed us what it looked like to fight, to fight for a cure, to raise funds and … to make sure the community was brought into that activity." Ms Allan acknowledged Ms Vulin's efforts to bring together both sides of politics for the event while fighting the disease and continuing to serve the community of Pakenham. "You've made a big difference to this place through simply showing how the parliament needed to adapt to make sure that people of all abilities, all backgrounds can participate equally," she said. "That's a lasting legacy." Ms Vulin told the gathering she believed Neale Daniher and FightMND had been successful in raising the community's awareness of the disease. "It means so much, not just to me personally but to my family and other people who are facing or impacted by MND to show that so many people, particularly in a parliament where sometimes we're fighting in the chambers, we're all coming together for one cause," she said.