Younger son James told the packed congregation at St John’s Anglican Church yesterday that his father’s most brilliant achievement was to wed his mother, the late Jan Treloar, to whom he was married for more than 60 years.

“Dad’s family was his greatest pleasure. He loved a family gathering, whatever the occasion – he loved to entertain – but Christmas was very special. Dad loved to celebrate,” James said.

John, the firstborn son, spoke of his father’s long and successful life, his school days at Shore and later TAS, his passion for rugby, his navy days and taking the reins of the family business in 1953, at age 27, upon the death of his father, Jack.

“When the (navy) enlisting officer found out he was a keen rugby player, he was quickly placed in the radar group, despite being lousy at maths,” John said.

“The enlisting officer was also from the radar section and radar had a proud record of never losing a game of rugby.

“His explanation was that they could train a recruit in radar, but it was far harder to train a footballer.”

His service to both business and the community was exemplary and in 1993 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to business and commerce, particularly the retail industry.

He suffered a debilitating stroke in 2001 and for the past four years was a resident of Nazareth House nursing home. 

Mr Treloar died on August 16, aged 88.