Neil Sachse
- August 25, 2020
- 69 years
About Neil Sachse
Neil Sachse, 69, Australian footballer and disability advocate.
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Full Biography
|Neil Frederick Sachse (3 January 1951 – 25 August 2020) was a South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and Victorian Football League (VFL) Australian rules footballer, who was left a quadriplegic after an on-field accident in a 1975 VFL game.
Footscray career
Sachse was a premiership player with North Adelaide before moving to VFL club Footscray in 1975.
In his second match for Footscray (Round 2, 1975), Sachse was left a quadriplegic after an accidental collision with Fitzroy player Kevin O'Keeffe. He was left with no use of his legs, and little movement in his hands. However, he could still move his arms and breathe normally.
The Neil Sachse Foundation
In 1994, Neil Sachse and Dawn Ferrett founded an organisation to raise funds for research into the treatment of spinal cord injury.[citation needed] Originally known as the Spinal Research Fund of Australia Incorporated, it was renamed the Neil Sachse Foundation.
Since 1994, it has raised over $2 million which has funded a research project at Flinders University that proved that nerve fibres in the spine can regenerate past the site of the injury and return some function.
In 2009, in recognition of his tireless work and dedication, Neil was awarded the "Premier's Award for Outstanding Community Achievement in South Australia" at an Awards Ceremony run by the Australia Day Council of SA at Government House.
Sachse's biography, Playing On, written with Michael Sexton, was released through Affirm Press in August 2015.
Sachse died on 25 August 2020.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Sachse
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Neil Sachse's archived record and the sources above.
1.What award was Neil Sachse given in 2009 for his dedication to community achievement?
- A.The Australian Football Medal
- B.Premier's Award for Outstanding Community Achievement in South Australiacorrect
- C.The National Spinal Research Prize
- D.Government House Leadership Award
In 2009, Neil Sachse was awarded the Premier's Award for Outstanding Community Achievement in South Australia.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
2.Who was the co-author of the biography of Neil Sachse titled Playing On?
- A.Kevin O'Keeffe
- B.Michael Sextoncorrect
- C.The Australia Day Council
- D.Dawn Ferrett
Neil Sachse's biography, Playing On, was written with Michael Sexton.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
3.In what year was Neil Sachse's biography, Playing On, released?
- A.1994
- B.2020
- C.2015correct
- D.2009
The biography Playing On was released through Affirm Press in August 2015.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
4.What physical function did Neil Sachse retain after his accident, according to the text?
- A.Ability to breathe normallycorrect
- B.Full movement in his hands
- C.Full use of his legs
- D.Ability to play professional football
Despite his injury, Neil Sachse could still move his arms and breathe normally.
Source: Footscray career section
5.On what date did Neil Sachse pass away?
- A.3 January 2020
- B.25 August 2015
- C.3 January 1951
- D.25 August 2020correct
Neil Sachse died on 25 August 2020.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
6.Which organisation hosted the awards ceremony where Neil Sachse received the Premier's Award in 2009?
- A.The Footscray Football Club
- B.Flinders University
- C.Affirm Press
- D.Australia Day Council of SAcorrect
Neil Sachse was awarded at an Awards Ceremony run by the Australia Day Council of SA at Government House.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
7.In which league was Neil Sachse playing when he suffered his career-ending accident?
- A.The Australian Football League
- B.AFL
- C.SANFL
- D.VFLcorrect
Neil Sachse was left a quadriplegic after an on-field accident in a 1975 VFL game.
Source: biographical header
8.On what date was Neil Frederick Sachse born?
- A.3 February 1952
- B.25 August 1951
- C.15 January 1950
- D.3 January 1951correct
Neil Frederick Sachse was born on 3 January 1951.
Source: biographical header
9.Which football club did Neil Sachse play for as a premiership player before joining Footscray?
- A.Flinders University
- B.Fitzroy
- C.Australia Day Council
- D.North Adelaidecorrect
Neil Sachse was a premiership player with North Adelaide before moving to the VFL club Footscray.
Source: Footscray career section
10.What was the name of the Fitzroy player involved in the collision with Neil Sachse in 1975?
- A.Dawn Ferrett
- B.Kevin O'Keeffecorrect
- C.Neil Frederick
- D.Michael Sexton
Neil Sachse was left a quadriplegic after an accidental collision with Fitzroy player Kevin O'Keeffe.
Source: Footscray career section
11.In what year did the on-field accident occur that left Neil Sachse a quadriplegic?
- A.1994
- B.1975correct
- C.1970
- D.1980
Neil Sachse was left a quadriplegic after an on-field accident in a 1975 VFL game.
Source: biographical header
12.Who co-founded the spinal injury research organisation with Neil Sachse in 1994?
- A.Dawn Ferrettcorrect
- B.The Premier of SA
- C.Michael Sexton
- D.Kevin O'Keeffe
In 1994, Neil Sachse and Dawn Ferrett founded an organisation to raise funds for research into the treatment of spinal cord injury.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
13.What was the original name of the organisation founded by Neil Sachse in 1994?
- A.Spinal Research Fund of Australia Incorporatedcorrect
- B.Flinders Spinal Research Group
- C.The Neil Sachse Foundation
- D.Australian Football Disability Alliance
The organisation was originally known as the Spinal Research Fund of Australia Incorporated before being renamed.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
14.Which university conducted the research project funded by the Neil Sachse Foundation?
- A.South Australian University
- B.Flinders Universitycorrect
- C.Melbourne University
- D.University of Adelaide
The Neil Sachse Foundation funded a research project at Flinders University that investigated nerve fibre regeneration.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
15.How much money has the Neil Sachse Foundation raised since its inception in 1994?
- A.Over $1 million
- B.Over $5 million
- C.Over $2 millioncorrect
- D.Over $10 million
Since 1994, the foundation has raised over $2 million for spinal research.
Source: The Neil Sachse Foundation section
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