Frederic (Fred) John Moller was born in Kimba where he spent his early life until his parents William and Irene moved to Adelaide to give him a good education. Being the only child, Fred was a treasured little creature and adored by his parents who nurtured confidence with a wicked sense of humour.
After starting school at Christian Brothers College he was eventually sent to Rostrevor College as a boarder.
To say that Fred did not take his studies seriously is an understatement. He told one story about smoking on the second floor of the dormitory and flicking the ash over the balcony. Unbeknown to him the ash was landing on one of the Brothers standing below. The brother walked upstairs where Fred threw the offending butt away and pretended that nothing was happening.
The Brother walked up to him and while brushing the ash off his cassock said, ‘Fred, if you are going to smoke, please use an ashtray’.
On completing his schooling in 1952 Fred joined the State Bank, working in Port Adelaide, Cleve, Kimba and Victor Harbor.
In 1964 he married Ann and the following year Alicia was born.
Fred left the bank and started to work in hotels. In February 1968 Fred, Ann and Alicia moved into the Crown and Sceptre Hotel, King William St, and a month later James was born, followed by Juanita in 1971 and Catherine in 1974.
In 1978 after a long Friday night session in the saloon bar Fred, Ann, Muriel Sanderson and the four kids jumped in their bright pink Ford and headed up to the Marian Procession at Sevenhill. They reached the Gepps Cross Hotel and Fred announced that he thought Ann should drive because he wasn’t feeling too well. They turned back and went to the Royal Adelaide where he proceeded to spend five weeks recovering from his first heart attack.
In 1978 the family left the Crown and Sceptre and Fred went into hotel broking first for Gordon Pierce and Co and then in 1982 for Woodham Biggs and in 1990 for Peter Burns.
Finally, in 1992 he started FJ Moller and Associates and he continued to sell pubs until retirement in 2004.
Fred was actively involved in the Parkside parish and the local community, being chairperson of the pastoral council during the 80s, facilitator of the men’s discussion group at Resthaven, Malvern, and a volunteer driver for the Unley Council in the 90s. In recent years he taught English to the international novices at The Monastery.
He was a strong supporter, and committee member, of the annual Adelaide Racing Fraternity Mass held on Adelaide Cup weekend.
Fred had an energy that would light up a room. He was full of yarns and humour. While at times he was wildly inappropriate, he was at heart an entertainer with a desire to make people laugh. He could make a person feel like they were the only person in the room and be captivated by their every word.
Fred had no regrets. He said when you reach his age and reflect on your life, if you can be surrounded by the family that love you, friends whom you hold dear and have had a ‘bloody good laugh’, then you have won.
Taken from the eulogy by Fred’s son, James Moller.
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